The Wider Screen: Days of Glory (2007)

Welcome to ‘The Wider Screen’ a series of endorsements of films in the international sphere of cinema. In the past, I have been guilty of ignoring the potential of non-English speaking cinema and as I experience more international films, I can pass them onto you. Oscar Winning Parasite director Bong Joon Ho stated “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films” and in line with this notion, I hope I can do my bit to introduce you to some of the great international films that I have seen.

Days of Glory is the captivating story of the forgotten men from France's overseas territories who fought bravely for the French Army in WW2.  The men, mainly from Algeria, Morocco and Sub Saharan Africa known as the ‘indigènes’ willingly offered their services to liberate France, only hoping for respect and gratitude in return, they received neither. The story of the ‘indigènes’ is so brutally honest of the atrocious treatment that colonised nations received during both world wars. Racism, a lack of respect, along with a frank rewriting of history that completely ignores their selfless sacrifices that led to victory against unprecedented evil.

Days of Glory predominantly follows Said, Yassir, Abdelkader and Messaoud, all men of Muslim heritage who proudly jump at the chance to fight for the ‘good guys.’ Abdelkader is a gifted and natural leader who leads from the front as corporal, however it is clear that he deserves more responsibility. Messaoud, the talented marksman, and Said the quick thinker, the men demonstrate their abilities and importance to the cause without recognition.

Since operating as food for the gun in Italy, the surviving troops sail for France. In the ship, an enticing box of tomatoes causes an unexpected situation of outrage, angering the conservative French officers. The tomatoes are permitted for North Africans but not the darker in skin tone Sub-Saharan Africans. When a darker west African picks one, he is abruptly told "No tomatoes for you." Enraged, the Algerian Said destroys the tomatoes by stomping them into slush, finding rapport and respect, uniting the wider African forces against their bigoted French colleagues.

As the war rages on and the Africans head further north, their French counterparts receive promotions, they don’t. Abdelkader feels most hard done by due to his growing respect amongst the men he commands and a realisation that his qualities are being ignored. Abdelkader is better informed than most of his North African companions who look up to him. With a principled nature, he strives to be a genuine follower of French beliefs and values, this only deepens his bitterness to the French procedures that push him to the bottom of the pile.

Each battle is harder, colder, and more ‘indigènes’ men are slaughtered, the soldiers are reminded again that they are freeing France of its German occupiers. Superficially appearing like a patriotic sense of duty, but yet again they face up to their circumstances as second-class citizens, downtrodden by the people they serve alongside.

We all know what a generic WW2 film looks like. The brave Allies - often American, freeing the world from the evil Axis forces. Days of Glory is anything but that; a sincerely fresh and essential take on the war that changed the world forever. It was of course about the liberation of Europe, but from the perspective of the forgotten heroes that we have taken for granted for far too long. Filmmakers, have a duty to shed light on areas that haven’t had enough exposure in life, stories that need to be told, lives that need to be remembered.

Days of Glory emphasizes the ruthlessness of war, with a light gloss of Hollywood’s eye-catching makeup. These heroes are courageous, but most importantly Human.