Days Of Glory (2006)

86 out of 103 people found the following review helpful:

Warning: This is not a war film

Paul Latham from Middle row, willing it to be a good film, London, 4th April, 2007

About 5% of this film has combat scenes in it. It's mostly about how badly the French dealt with their African and North African soldiers in WW2. Which is fine. Except it's badly directed and dull. And it has Jamel Debbouze in it who's an OK actor but in real life only has one arm. The film makers think they get away with this by having him walking around with a prosthetic arm tucked in a pocket. I gave this film the very rare distinction of leaving before the end as it was so slow. And I like French movies!

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45 out of 46 people found the following review helpful:

Not a war movie - but a movie about War.

A Customer from Birmingham, England., 8th May, 2007

The reviewer who said that this is not a war film is right, it is a film about those who go to war. In particular, it is about the Muslim Algerians and Moroccans who joined up to fight for Free France in WWII, believing that they were fighting for 'egalite, fraternite et paternite', yet became the subject of prejudice, bigotry and duplicity whilst sacrificing their lives. There are some battle scenes, which are well done, if flawed (particularly in that so many seem to die immediately from a single bullet wound). It is not to be watched if you just want an all action war film. However, if you fancy something more thoughtful, thought-provoking and, perhaps, about the contribution of some you never even knew about, it is well worth watching.

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44 out of 55 people found the following review helpful:

days of glory

ivy from from Boston, 18th November, 2007

not bad but would be better in english

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34 out of 45 people found the following review helpful:

More than just another war film

PeterSays from , 2nd November, 2007

Saving Private Ryan really upped the ante when it comes to the horrors of war and the brilliance of special effects. Other war films now live in its shadow and Days of Glory is no exception. But it does do something different; something memorable. It set out to raise the profile of France's colonial troops and to highlight the prejudice and bigotry they faced and does both of these very well. What gave me most food for thought was how the platoon rebel became the obedient hero just by being shown a scrap of respect and a little understanding. So, despite being dressed up in Hollywood's war uniform, the film's personality does shine through. PS: Why did that chap go through the entire film with his right hand in his pocket? Am I missing something here?

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Days of Glory

A Customer from London, 18th July, 2010

The acting and characterization were immensely strong so that you engaged with the people and wanted passionately to know what happened to them so their successes and failures became for awhile yours. It was only afterwards that the political complexities struck you. Great film,

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent film - subtitles if you don't speak French

A Customer from England, 17th July, 2010

What a refreshing change to have a war film from the perspective of 'Colonial troops'. You would think the 2nd World war was won by Private Ryan and the USA... Omitting the USSR, UK, Canada, Australia, Poland but to name a few, Ohh and the French! A beautifully filmed piece of work from the perspective of Algerian & Colonial French troops during WW2. Some well known French actors in the film also but overall an excellent cast, I really enjoyed this film and if you like world cinema and seeing the world through other peoples eyes then I can recommend it. Its not Saving Private Ryan but it isn't meant to be. Watch it and learn about part of a war you don't get taught about at school. The closing scene is very poignant too... Now if they could merge that into Saving Private Ryan... that would have been a brilliant film.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Magnificent film.

harrisonaard1 from , 11th June, 2010

A really well acted, filmed and directed wartime story of a group of Algerian village men who volunteer to fight for their fatherland of France alongside men from other 'colonised' French states. (Even though their own country's histories does not reflect France's treatment of them well.) But, although the group defend their country and honour, against the odds of racism and nationalism, the film shows that even a 'foreign' man's heroism and selflessness for his fatherland reaps nothing if he 'doesn't belong there'. The Futility of war is often told and filmed. But not as well as this. Give it some time to sink in.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

An exceptional war film

A Customer from Taunton, 28th February, 2010

An exceptional film managing to cover both the experience of fighting in WW2 and the treatment of colonial soldiers fighting to liberate a country which is not their own. It tells the story of French Algerian troops fighting through Italy and into France, along with the different ways they are viewed by the indigenous French. If you are after a film with action and explosions then get another war film. If you want a thoughtful film that portrays a little known aspect of World War 2 and challenges the view that the conflict was about European and American soldiers then rent this movie. I place it as one of my five best war films (along with Saving Private Ryan, Soldier of Orange, Das Boot and Letters from Iwo Jima).

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