Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Days of Glory Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 24, 2009

Selected to represent Algeria during last year’s Oscars, Rachid Bouchareb’s “Indigenes” a.k.a. “Days of Glory” (2006) tells a powerful story about the fate of thousands of North Africans who fought for France during WW2. The film drew huge attention in France where two weeks after seeing it President Jacques Chirac reinstated pensions for North African veterans who enlisted as volunteers in the French Army. Courtesy of UK-based Metrodome Video.

The beginning

Algeria 1943. 233,000 North Africans are mobilized to reinforce the French Army. Fierce battles are fought from Tunisia to Italy. Saïd (Jamel Debbouze, Amelie, Angel-A), an illiterate and poor peasant, Messaoud (Roschdy Zem, Le petit lieutenant, London River), at times cocky but likable character, Yassir (Samy Naceri, Taxi, The Nest), a charismatic but fixated on money mercenary, and Abdelkader (Sami Bouajila, The Adventures of Felix), a well-educated but openly critical of the French military elite patriot, have enlisted as indigènes (natives) to fight the Germans. All of them are under the command of Sgt. Martinez (Bernard Blancan, Leaving), an honest man with a sharp tongue.

The French army is gaining on the German forces, but the ill-trained Algerians are dying like flies. Some of them are disgusted that their commanders are indifferent. Tensions are running high and the Algerians are routinely asked to stay away from the French.

The war comes to an end. The French soldiers return home and many of them are treated as heroes. The Algerians who have arrived in France are not. As the civilian population celebrates, some of the Algerians clash with the French.

Equality, racism, and honor are the key themes in Rachid Bouchareb’s impressively-composed war drama Days of Glory. Some critics have tagged it “the North-African Saving Private Ryan”, but aside from some stylistic similarities the two films could not be any more different.

Obviously, the political overtones Days of Glory carries would certainly resonate better with those familiar with the racial tensions that have bothered metropolitan areas in France during the last ten years, but the universal message about acceptance and respect the film leaves behind should be easy to detect regardless of whether one is familiar with the social climate in contemporary France. However, like Florent Emilio Siri’s L’ennemi intime and Laurent Herbiet’s Mon Colonel, Bouchareb’s Days of Glory is a product of the frustration and pain immigrants from France’s former colonies have had to endure for years.

Days of Glory certainly has the look and feel of a large and very expensive epic picture. Cinematographer Patrick Blossier (Mon Colonel) does a terrific job of allowing the viewer to witness the spectacular rugged terrain of the Algerian battlefields where the French and German armies clash. Particularly during the first half of Days of Glory there is an abundance of powerful scenes where the essence of war is captured marvelously.

The action is graphic but it is not overdone. Brutality isn’t the focal point in any of the large battle scenes, though precisely during such scenes a tendency to imitate the flashy rawness Hollywood war films have been promoting as of late is easy to detect. As a result, occasionally Days of Glory loses its intimate tone and begins to stutter. Still, even with the numerous flashbacks the script introduces the tempo of the story remains largely consistent.

The film’s finale is incredibly powerful. Some North American viewers may see it as being clichéd, but given the type of response Days of Glory earned from former President Jacques Chirac, it was undoubtedly justified.

Days of Glory Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Rachid Bouchareb's Days of Glory arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Metrodome Video.

The transfer for this fairly recent French production is solid. Contrast is pleasing throughout the entire film, clarity is impressive, and fine detail exceptionally strong. In fact, a lot of the nighttime scenes, especially during the first half of the film, are as strong as the daylight scenes. The color-scheme is also very well handled. During the desert scenes in Days of Glory blues and yellows appear to be the dominant colors (in all sorts of different varieties), and the 1080p transfer certainly allows one to fully appreciate the nuanced composition of the film. This being said, I did not spot evidence of DNR manipulation. The transfer provided by Metrodome Video has a fair amount of film grain and an overall natural look. Furthermore, the actual print is of exceptionally high quality – it is free of debris, specks, and dirt. To sum it all up, Days of Glory looks fantastic on Blu-ray! (Note: Even though this Blu-ray disc is marketed as Region-B it is in fact Region-Free and you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Days of Glory Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French: DTS 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, and French: Stereo 2.0. Obviously, it is a bit disappointing that Metrodome Video have not supplied a lossless track for their release of Days of Glory, but this was one of the company's early releases and since then they have certainly adjusted their practice accordingly. This being said, the DTS 5.1 track does a good job of capturing the intensity of the impressive battle scenes. These are certainly intense and the DTS 5.1 track adds plenty to the overall viewing experience. The surround channels are very active, though I must assume that had Metrodome Video offered a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track this disc would have been regarded as one of the very best on the UK market. The powerful explosions as well as the flying bullets during the massive clashes between the two fighting sides are so impressive, it is really hard not to speculate with "what ifs". Still, the DTS 5.1 track does a decent enough job and I am certain you would be satisfied with the audio treatment it provides. Finally, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report here. For the record, Metrodome Video have supplied optional English subtitles and they are split between the image frame and the black bar underneath it.

Days of Glory Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Aside from a large text-format "Historical Background" exploring the nature of the issue covered by Days of Glory (this is an incredibly informative summation of the developments that followed the release of the film as well as Jacques Chirac's decision to unfreeze and update the pensions of North African war veterans), on this Blu-ray disc you will also find an introduction to the film by Rachid Bouchareb, a Q&A session with the director where he addresses the history of Days of Glory, a standard "Making Of", and the original theatrical trailer. I must note, however, that all of the extras, with the exception of the "Historical Background", are in standard-def PAL, so unless you have a player capable of converting PAL-NTSC, or a TV set capable of accepting PAL signal directly, you won't be able to access them.

Days of Glory Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A powerful film with an important message that forced the French government to reconsider an unjust policy that has been in existence for well over 40 years, Days of Glory arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Metrodome Video. Aside from the fact that a lossless audio track was not supplied by the British distributors, this Blu-ray disc is the complete package. The video treatment is superd and the extras probably as fascinating, if not more appealing, than the actual film. If interested in the subject Days of Glory addresses I strongly recommend that you consider adding this disc to your libraries.