I didn't know anything about the film, and I was really pleasantly surprised to find out that the film is in fact the sequel to the 2006 French film "Indigènes" (which translates as "Natives"), which was quite popular and controversial in France. The film looks at Algerians (at the time colonized by the French) who fought on the side of the French in WWII and were decisive for a number of victories. These were men who had largely never seen France, though their education has taught them to think of France as the "motherland."
This was blatant colonial propaganda that touted France as the epitome of civilization, while France simultaneously instituted land policies that enormously favored white French citizens while impoverishing "Arab" Algerians. The film itself shows the racist treatment Algerian soldiers endured in the French army, even while they were fighting side by side with white European Frenchmen.
As regards the treatment of the Algerian (and other African soldiers), here is an excerpt from the Wiki article on the film:
"The discrimination by the French authorities against these soldiers continued as successive French governments froze the war pensions of these indigenous veterans when their countries became independent. It was only after the film's release that the government policy was changed to bring foreign combatant pensions into line with what French veterans are paid.[3] The closing credits of the film state that, despite the ruling that war pensions should be paid in full, successive French administrations since 2002 have not paid anything to its former colonial soldiers."
So the film, in fact, helped to illuminate some serious and very recent injustices. So I was really proud to play a role in the sequel. And I think I will actually be in a scene!! (See photo below)
I also had a lot of fun taking pictures on the set with the other extras, many of whom were Tunisian (like the girl above!).
We also got our hair and makeup done:
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