Tirailleurs is a historical drama directed by Mathieu Vadepied, which explores a little-known part of the history of the First World War through the story of a Senegalese father who enlists in the French army to protect his son. Starring Omar Sy, who also produced the film, it highlights the fate of African riflemen. The cast also includes Alassane Diong and Jonas Bloquet. The film opened the "Un Certain Regard" section at the Cannes Film Festival.
Tirailleurs will be broadcast on France 2 on Sunday May 25, 2025 at 9:10pm.
Discover Tirailleurs, a war drama focusing on African soldiers in the Great War.
Synopsis: 1917. Bakary Diallo enlists in the French army to join Thierno, his 17-year-old son, who has been forcibly recruited. Sent to the front, father and son face the war together. Galvanized by the enthusiasm of his officer, who wants to take him to the heart of the battle, Thierno will free himself and learn to become a man, while Bakary will do everything to pull him out of the fighting and bring him back safe and sound.
Tirailleurs could be of interest to viewers looking for historical narratives that shed light on forgotten historical figures. The film follows in the footsteps of Indigènes andPaths of Glory, approaching the war from the point of view of soldiers from the colonies. It is aimed at an adult audience sensitive to the issues of memory, transmission and family heritage.
Released in January 2023, Tirailleurs was well received at film festivals and in the press. It stands out forOmar Sy 's restrained interpretation andAlassane Diong's intense performance. The film was conceived as a duty to remember the colonial troops who fought for France. It offers an intimate and original view of the war, far removed from the usual representations.
Tirailleurs is an engaging historical film that sheds light on the African soldiers of the First World War. Between a father-son relationship and survival on the frontline, this drama by Mathieu Vadepied offers a fresh look at a little-known episode in French history, played with sobriety by Omar Sy.
Our opinion on Tirailleurs:
A new twist in the career ofOmar Sy, whose total commitment to this project is evident. Standing back from the camera, he plays a cold, determined father undermined by war, ready to do anything to protect his son, forcibly conscripted into the French troops of the First World War. The film is impressive for its war scenes, but above all for its cruelty: the tragedy experienced by the African riflemen is shown unvarnished. It's a tough, cold feature, often shot at night or in bad weather, with almost no sunlight.
Obviously, a war film of this scale requires a considerable budget, which the film does not have. This is apparent on a few occasions, in the economy of the mise en scène, but never mind, its strength lies elsewhere, in the writing of its characters. On the one hand, Omar Sy's father, with his inflexible determination, and on the other, his son, played by Alassane Diong, who is rapidly rising through the ranks of his regiment, to the point of wanting to leave his father behind.
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