1959, France. Colonel Breitner is given a secret mission : find the body of his former aide, Colonel Delignières, who is reported missing in French Algeria, before the French army burns the whole place to the ground. Breitner puts together a team of five outlaws, who are promised freedom if the mission succeeds.
Acting
Heldenbergh's hollow-eyed exhaustion carries the whole damn thing.
Cinematography
Algeria as purgatory — beautiful and utterly hostile.
Writing
Dafri's debut proves he's the real deal — no easy answers.
Director
Abdel Raouf Dafri
Johan Heldenbergh
Colonel Andreas Breitner
Linh-Dan Pham
Saoua Ly Lang
Lyna Khoudri
Assia Bent Aouda
Steve Tientcheu
Sergent chef Senghor
Pierre Lottin
Alexis Martillat
Olivier Gourmet
Colonel Delignières
Salim Kéchiouche
Mourad Boukarouba
Hichem Yacoubi
Youcef
Annie Mercier
Mme Delignières
Hassam Ghancy
Stanislas Lepage
Laurent Richard
Lieutenant Pierre Terrail
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Dafri spent 15 years writing this before directing; he co-wrote 'A Prophet' and 'Mesrine' — this is his personal reckoning with French Algeria.
The film was buried on release — French critics uncomfortable with its unflinching portrayal of colonial atrocities during the Algerian War.
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