Free Men
A film by Ismaël Ferroukhi
French release September 28 2011
Synopsis
1942, in German-occupied Paris. Younes, a young unemployed Algerian, earns his living as a black marketeer. Arrested by the French police, Younes agrees to spy on the Paris Mosque. The police suspects indeed the Mosque authorities, among which Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit, its Rector, of helping Resistance fighters and Jews by giving them false certificates. At the Mosque, Younes meets the Algerian singer Salim Halali. Younes is moved by Salim's beautiful voice and strong personality and they become friends. Soon after, he discovers that Salim is Jewish. In spite of the risks it entails, Younes stops collaborating with the police. Confronted by this barbarism, Younes gradually develops from being a politically ignorant immigrant worker into a fully-fledged freedom fighter.
Cast
Younes : Tahar Rahim
Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit : Michael Lonsdale
Salim : Mahmoud Shalaby
Leila : Lubna Azabal
Major Von Ratibor : Christopher Buchholz
Ali : Farid Larbi
Francis : Stéphane Rideau
Crew
A film by Ismaël Ferroukhi
Screenplay by Ismaël Ferroukhi - Alain-Michel Blanc
Original score : Armand Amar
Produced by Fabienne Vonier
Executive and associate producer : Stéphane Parthenay
Photography : Jérôme Alméras A.F.C.
Editing : Annette Dutertre
Sound : Jean-Paul Mugel, Séverin Favriau, Stéphane Thiébaud
Set :Thierry François
Costumes : Virginie Montel
Casting : Brigitte Moidon A.R.D.A.
1st Ad : Stéphane Gluck
Continuity : François Pascaud
Production manager : Marc Fontanel
Production information
A PYRAMIDE PRODUCTIONS production
In coproduction with France 3 Cinéma, Solaire Productions, V.M.P.
With the participation of Canal +, France Télévisions, Cinécinéma, TV5Monde
With the participation of the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée
With the support of the Fonds Images de la diversité, de la Région Île-de-France, du Programme Média de l'Union Européenne
In association with Manon, Sofica Coficup - Backup Films
Technical information
France
Year of production : 2011
Length : 99 mn
Festivals and awards
Sélection Officielle Festival de Cannes 2011 - Special session
Sélection Officielle Festival de Toronto 2011