Free Men
In German-occupied Paris, a young unemployed Algerian named Younes (played by break-out star, Tahar Rahim) earns his living as a black marketeer. Arrested by the French police but given a chance to avoid jail, Younes agrees to spy on the Paris Mosque. The police suspect the Mosque authorities, including its rector Ben Ghabrit, of aiding Muslim Resistance agents and helping North African Jews by giving them false certificates. At the Mosque, Younes meets the Algerian singer Salim Halali, and is moved by Salim's beautiful voice and strong personality. When Younes discovers that Salim is Jewish, he stops collaborating with the police and gradually transforms from a politically ignorant immigrant into a fully-fledged freedom fighter.
"Filmmaker Ismaël Ferroukhi’s 'Free Men' admirably takes as its subject the little-known history of North African freedom fighters in occupied Paris during WWII... Highly recommended." - Video Librarian
Cast
- Tahar Rahim
DVD Features
Bonus short: Lustig, directed by John Francis Black II
Sound: Stereo 2.0 and 5.1 Surround Sound
Discs: 1
- "Both subtle and magnetic...Tahar Rahim [is] one of France's finest young actors...[FREE MEN] contributes a worthy and interesting chapter to the tradition of World War II dramas."
- "A testament to Rahim's screen presence...Free Men proves that the can't-take-your-eyes-off-him charisma the Franco-Algerian actor displayed in Jacques Audiard's A Prophet was no fluke."
- "[Tahar Rahim] has an undeniable screen presence that recalls a young Robert DeNiro [and] Lonsadale is, like always, a pleasure to watch."
Gallery
Awards & Recognition
Cannes Film Festival
Toronto Int'l Film Festival
Best Foreign Film
Santa Barbara Int'l Film Festival
Audience Award
Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Haifa Int'l Film Festival
Abu Dhabi Film Festival
Cinefranco
Portland Int'l Film Festival
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Miami Int'l Film Festival
Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Cleveland Int'l Film Festival
Washington DC Int'l Film Festival
Detroit Jewish Film Festival
Minneapolis-St. Paul Film Festival
Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Port Townsend Film Festival
Teaneck Int'l Film Festival
Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
Athens Jewish Film Festival
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
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