Days of Glory (2006) on Netflix
In 1943, Algerians join the French Army to free a France they have never seen. Saïd, Messaoud, Abdelkader and Yassir train under Sergeant Martinez before their first battle in Italy.
- Netflix3.8/5
- IMDb7.0/1015,692 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes83%
Trailer
Plot summary
Recruiters in Algeria bring volunteers into the French Army in 1943 to fight Nazi Germany: Saïd, a goatherd; Messaoud, who dreams of settling in France with a wife; the literate Corporal Abdelkader; and the brothers Yassir and Larbi, collecting booty so Larbi can marry. They train in Morocco and deploy to Italy with the 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment under Sergeant Martinez, a pied-noir, where their first mission is to take a mountain held by the Germans. Bound for Provence, the colonial troops are refused the fresh tomatoes served to other soldiers until Abdelkader crushes a box in protest, and the captain rules that everyone may eat. Greeted in Marseille as liberators, Messaoud meets Irène, a French woman, and they promise to write. Leave and promotions go to the European French rather than to them, and Abdelkader speaks up for equality.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Days of Glory (2006)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The film's release pushed the French government to bring foreign combatant pensions into line with what French veterans are paid, after successive administrations froze the pensions of indigenous colonial soldiers whose countries became independent.
- The snowy mountain scenes of Rachid Bouchareb's film, meant to take place in the Vosges, were actually shot in Morocco, while the real Vosges filming happened around the villages of Bains-les-Bains and Fontenoy-le-Château.
