A “masterpiece” war film about a forgotten chapter of World War 2 is available to rent or buy in the UK. Days of Glory (2006) is a French-language drama about four Algerian soldiers who “enlist to fight for France and liberate it from the Nazis during WW2″, the teaser intro on Amazon Prime Video reads.
“In their epic journey, they face injustice, show fearless courage and experience discrimination from the very country they helped defend,” it adds.
It stars Sami Bouajila, Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Roschdy Zem, Mélanie Laurent and Bernard Blancan. The film is a powerful reminder of the crucial role that troops from what were then French colonies in Africa played in the Allied victory, dramatising a story many see as overlooked by history.
Directed by Rachid Bouchareb, its message was so powerful that it is said to have contributed to former French President Jaques Chirac’s move to bring the pensions of fighters from the former colonies on par with French veterans.
Fans have flocked to IMDb to heap praise upon the film, with one calling it a “fine masterpiece by a director in his prime”.
Another wrote: “Days of Glory is one of the better entries in the field of war dramas, with a message of humanity portrayed with great style.”
A third said it’s “one that everyone should see to learn about an often suppressed part of history”.
“Never forget what colonialism will bring about,” they added.
A fourth gave it a perfect score, hailing it as a “war film to treasure”. They added that it’s the “most impressive war film” they’d seen since All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), a seminal war epic based on Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel of the same name.
“A production achievement of the highest order, what a great pity its foreign dialogue restricts the wide market appeal it most surely deserves,” they added.
“The ensemble performances have never been bettered, the direction quite brilliant. Both films carried a most powerful message.”
The film has a 12 certificate and contains contains strong language and moderate war violence, so viewer discretion is advised.
Days of Glory is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.