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From SeeingBlack.com Movies/TV
Director and writer Rachid Bouchareb tells his story primarily through three North African men, Saïd, Messaoud and Abdelkader, as they have left their families and are fighting along side other Arab and Black men from French colonies in Africa. “Days of Glory” is deft in its detailed treatment of the racism of colonial rule, and how that racism was internalized or rejected by the colonized. Saïd (Jamel Debbouze) might be considered the Arab version of an Uncle Tom. His superiors like him because he seems humble, subservient and willing to go along to get along. He is good-hearted and likable but sees little empowerment among those share his skin color and, conversely, sees all power resting with the French. Messouad (Roschdy Zem) is the expert marksman who is also a dreamy romantic. He is contrast of sharp shooting and soft edges. Though such associations are not possible in his country, he falls in love with a French woman while in France and spends the rest of his time thinking about how to be with her. Abdelkader (Sami Bouajila), the Malcolm X of the trio, is quick to remind his fellow dark soldiers that while they answered the call to duty of French General Charles de Gaulle, who spoke of liberty, equality and fraternity in the fight against Nazism, they are treated as second-class citizens in the military. It is through Abdelkader that Bouchareb shows us the hypocrisy of France asking these African men to die in a war against fascism, while making it clear that they do not have the rights of White French citizens. These three corporals report to a fourth main character, Sergeant Roger Martinez, who we learn is “passing” as a White man in order to be accepted by the French both in society and in the military as a senior officer. The interactions of these four men are revealing, fraught with tension and are woven tightly around issues of race, pride and manhood. “Days of Glory,” titled Indigènes in French, is also absorbing and memorable as a war film that takes us to several locations in North Africa and France during pivotal battles when many lives were lost. Throughout, Bouchareb holds true to his theme of these soldiers fighting on two fronts, not unlike how African Americans spoke of fighting for the “double-V,” for victory against the Germans and victory at home against racism. This film, which is nominated for an Oscar, is based on a true story of men who had courage, skill and tenacity but are forgotten heroes. Esther Iverem's review of "Days of Glory" also appears on www.BET.com. She is the author of the forthcoming book We Gotta Have It: Twenty Years of Seeing Black at the Movies, 1986-2006 (Thunder’s Mouth Press, April 2007). © Copyright by SeeingBlack.com |
