France/Morocco/Algeria/Belgium (2006): Drama/History/War

With strong visuals and even stronger emotions, Rachid Bouchareb's Indigènes makes a powerful war film about a particularly unique subject. World War II historians tend to ignore the contributions and sacrifices made in the liberation of France by North African or "indigenous" soldiers in the French army. A tough offensive from the South and from Italy helped take the pressure off both the Allies following the Normandy landing and the Soviet army on the Eastern Front. Casualties were high among these French troops, many of whom were from France's colonies. In his film, Bouchareb pays tribute to the heroism of these men fighting for the liberation of a mother country they had never before seen. -- Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

Co-written by Rachid Bouchareb and Olivier Lorelle; directed by Rachid Bouchareb. (distributed in the US by IFC Films - Web site)

   · Best Foreign Language Film of the Year 2006: (Germany) Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, director

1 nomination