Days of Glory

The story of the prejudiced Algerians deserved the silver screen. A huge portion of the French army were from North Africa during WW2. These soldiers were considered inferior during the war, and didn't recieve pensions and proper recognition after the war. It's not really a unique war film, but it does enough to set itself a part. Well crafted film, although it needed more to be truly memorable.

The performances are so passionate and the characters (even minor ones) so deftly sketched that it's impossible not to get swept up. You watch the battle scenes from behind your hands, just praying that these guys make it.

A well told story of prejudice amongst allies, though certainly not unique to it's genre.

The movie undermines its own effort to convey a serious message (colonial troops weren't treated adequately by the french) by being both hypocritical (there's not even a hint to the fact that these were the most notorious troops on the whole western front for their crimes against civilians) and ridiculous (who casted Debbouze for a role as a soldier and gave him a bolt-action rifle? and the battle scenes... what's the matter with that guy shooting his panzershreck randomly inside a building?)

Fairly standard war film but for the shoddy treatment shown to the North African soldiers by the French. Sadly this was the same behavior shown by many of the colonial powers of the day towards the indigenous soldiers helping fight the Nazis. Call them what they were, cannon fodder. Decent film, worth a look.

Ingratitude: The Movie. #Netflix

Not the best war-movie ever, but still I enjoyed this movie a lot. It's a little slow and not for mainstream moviegoers, but the story and the social dynamics and racial prejudices were interesting to watch, though admittedly maybe not as close to the true situation back then as the makers would like you to believe.

Commendation for telling a story which was overdue to be told, but despite the casting of the best French / North African actors, the film is not a classic. Some bizarre early dialogue scenes make it slow to get going. The balance between action and characters felt off due to poor story structure. The final battle scene came too late, and didn't offer much new. A well-directed but underwhelming war film with a bit too much dialogue, probably of most interest to history buffs.

Yet another movie about the lack of honor/balls of the french military

One of a million films that suppose that if you're taking on a loaded subject - in this case, the critical participation of African and Arab soldiers in WWII France that tends to be brushed over in historical narrative - it should be affecting and stimulating enough in its own right, without needing to resort to meritorious artistry, or good storytelling, or anything to make the film interesting in any way. I disagree.

82.500

Conventional but very moving and haunting.

"This rasping relic of a WWII "message picture" is hackneyed to its noble core." - Nick Schager

Very educational and informative, but it lacks the pace of a truly good film. By all means, see this if you are a history buff or want to see how governments often treat their soldiers once they don't need them anymore. But it's not a film for everyone.

24-3-2010

Slow moving but poignant. A story that deserved to be told but not as gripping as other war films.

81.000