"Days of Glory" is not a typical war movie. If you're expecting relentless bloodshed and unrelenting combat, you might be disappointed. This film has a unique approach. It's not primarily an anti-war movie, even though it unfolds during the turbulent years of World War II, with its stark depiction of the harsh realities of battle. Instead, it resonates with a resounding message of freedom and dignity. It is a revealing portrait of an era that echoes something we all fervently champion: freedom.
The "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" is undoubtedly a treasure that France has contributed to the world—a declaration of equality, liberty, and dignity, principles that should be fundamental rights for every individual. However, in a diverse nation like France, these ideals aren't always fully realized. It's a tragedy, particularly for the brave soldiers who fought for France's liberation and the fight against Nazi aggression. This sense of abandonment and disillusionment is a sad undertone.
While the film's five central characters have distinct personalities and aspirations, they collectively won the Best Actor award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Clearly, this film celebrates unity, particularly the unity within a community of Arab descent.
The story unfolds during the final years of World War II, spanning 1944 to 1945. Arab men from North African nations, like Algeria and Morocco, which were French colonies at the time, joined the conflict to resist fascist invasion and to liberate the country they saw as their homeland—France.This might seem incredulous—colonial subjects considering France their homeland, even though they were never genuinely regarded as French. This theme permeates the entire film.
These North African soldiers were consistently deployed to the most perilous fronts of the war. Their bravery contributed to the victory, but it came at a staggering cost. They were essentially treated as suicide squads. Throughout history, such squads have typically comprised two types of individuals. Some were condemned criminals offered a chance to avoid execution by fighting on the battlefield, a high-stakes gamble. The others took on this role as a solemn pledge, often to showcase heroic valor and rattle the enemy. However, these North African soldiers didn't fit into either category; they were subjected to discrimination, becoming the first casualties of the war.
Discrimination extended beyond this, affecting aspects like the distribution of tomatoes and the perpetual inability to set foot on French soil. All these underscores that these North African soldiers were never acknowledged by the French, fated to be an abandoned army.For the sake of France's freedom, they stayed on without dignity. This left these North African soldiers struggling to understand. This internal contradiction seeped into every soldier's psyche.
The Corporal is an idealist at heart. He naively believed that through education, he could earn the recognition of the French people. He fought valiantly on the battlefield while diligently pursuing his studies. Yet, reality is often merciless. When he witnessed that promotions were reserved exclusively for the French, he was overwhelmed with despair. He knew he could never truly become French. In the eyes of the French, he would always be an outsider. Despite achieving the rank of Corporal, he never entirely abandoned this fanciful dream. As the film reaches its climax, facing imminent danger, his choice transcends mere bravery. It's a testament to his dignity and unwavering beliefs. He realized that he needed to act. This action wasn't about integrating into French society or securing a promotion; it was purely symbolic. A symbol, a task worth remembering. However, as the war ended and his comrades fell, the arrival of the French military failed to deliver the acknowledgment he'd yearned for. In the media lens, French soldiers were the focus, and his sense of dignity remained unsatisfied. Consequently, he led a solitary and poor life in France, bearing the scars of the war.
The Gunman was also a romantic at heart. In his hometown, cultural norms prevented him from marrying French women. He believed that through the war, through heroically fighting for France’s liberation, he could experience the same romantic encounters as the French. Despite their enduring love, military regulations hindered their correspondence, dampening his passion. This romantic tragedy reflects real-life circumstances, emphasizing that while love was celebrated in the Gunman's role, it primarily served as a symbol. Like the Corporal's education, it was symbolic, yet this symbolism remained pale and powerless in the eyes of a discriminatory French society.
The Thief represented a classic realist. He harbored no grand ideals; his goal was to improve his life through military service. However, when they faced the Christ revered by the French, he witnessed Jesus' suffering. It wasn't a matter of faith but a symbol of a war for freedom. Through his character, the director effectively conveyed the importance of equality and freedom transcending religious boundaries. Thus, the Thief respected the religion cherished by the French, creating a stark contrast with the film's discrimination against the Arab community. At the Corporal's urging, the Thief joined the final battle. When he met his end, he might have not resisted the discrimination. What he possessed was bravery and an unwavering thirst for freedom.
Jamel's performance was truly outstanding. Anyone familiar with "Amélie" won't forget this diminutive actor. In this film, his character's thoughts seemed more straightforward: to liberate France. This was the singular yardstick devoid of ulterior motives or desires. His childlike appearance won the Corporal's approval, but it left him marginalized within the Arab community. However, when he uncovered the Corporal's secret, he realized his naivety. The sense of being deceived led him to contemplate why, as an Arab, he was fighting for colonialism. His contemplation was feeble, yet he ultimately concurred with the Corporal's decision, giving up his life while rescuing him. He was a good person, and his kindness, along with his lack of desires, happened to be precisely what the French required. In essence, the French needed soldiers, and weapons in this war, not individuals who might potentially become French. Jamel's character bore immense symbolic significance and underscored the status of Arab colonials in the eyes of the French at that time.
The Corporal emerged as a tragic figure. In the film, he directly clashed with these Arab soldiers, creating conflicts. Yet, after every clash, when he spoke in favor of his men to his superiors, he seemed like a commendable commander. Nonetheless, Jamel's inadvertent discovery laid bare this character's identity, casting doubt on his French identity. As a result, and like the Corporal, he concealed his true self to preserve his dignity. This manifestation of the tragedy was profoundly unsettling. It highlighted that, at the time, the sole path to French recognition involved deception—an eerie reflection of societal perceptions, as seen in "The Human Stain."
The film is based on real-life events, a poignant reminder not to forget this part of the history. These are the forgotten heroes, those erased by history's annals. Their contributions deserve recognition, for they made substantial sacrifices for freedom, yet they did not receive the respect they deserved. And so, a grand epic unfolds—a tale of Arab independence and dignity. It's a powerful reminder to never forget these "Days of Glory."
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