Commercial Movies

Days of Glory

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Directed by: Rachid Bouchareb

Cast: Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, Bernard Blancan, Mathieu Simonet, Assaad Bouab, Benoît Giros

Runtime: 128 mins

Can cinema make a difference? Who Knows?

Are people even watching? I don’t know.

In the film I’m Not There Cate Blanchett says that music can’t change anything. But does this statement hold good for cinema as well. Does certain amount of discipline towards the arts change the minds of people? This film sort of did it for the French Government who after watching this film gave these people the pension they deserved for fighting in the war. The film talks about the lives of couple of African soldiers whose goal was to rid France of the Nazi Occupation. It takes through the whole racial discrimination that these soldiers had to face in their own countries armies.

The film is a very poignant piece of History that heralds the ending of this discrimination in Europe. The films voice resounded through the minds of many. But is this gesture of a film too late for some of them. It doesn’t matter the merit of this film is that it brought about change in this era. Is it a good film that is a question I might not be able to answer ten years from now? But for cinema relevance is in its longevity not in the stories or headlines it made during its release. So I would like to safely say it had its moments. It was not as good as Saving Private Ryan but comparable that I can say.

There are some popular Algerian actors who create the necessary impact for a film of such a nature. But does it go beyond a film touch the boundaries of cinema itself that I should say no. It is a very safe film like saving Private Ryan itself. I chose this film for some endearing moments that were fresh and are bordering on some changes that will become default for new wave cinema.

Maybe another reason that this film didn’t resound like it had to for me is it because the issues these people face are not foreign to us. So for me to see a racially discriminating film is like reading another Hardy Boys novel. So finally I would like to reiterate that I m not discrediting this movie but I feel films of this sort could go further. If you want to see better French new wave War films watch Beau Travail you will not be disappointed.