Original subtitles

Τhis film is a fictional story

freely inspired by actual people and events.

ln July 1939, the last big waνe of immigration reached France.

lmpoνerished labourers, mostly from Algeria and Morocco,

arriνed in Paris looking for factory and construction work.

Τhe war and the German occupation halted the influx.

Most were sent bacck to North Africa but many stayed on,

struggling to make ends meet in occupied Paris.

Greetings!

Ηow's lif e?

What have you got?

Good things?

Got any coffee?

Coffee and cigarettes.

- Ηow much f or this? - Six.

Cigarettes f or me, too.

- For you? - Τea.

Τrade me some cigarettes

f or this darbuka.

lt's no use to me.

l don't do trades.

lt's all l have left.

l'm penniless.

lt's valuable.

- lt belonged to Ηadj El Αnka. Right? - Right.

Free Men

Greetings.

Αny post, Maryvonne?

Still nothing.

l've finally f ound you.

What's up, Αli?

Τhere's a crackdown on immigrants. lD checks are increasing.

Υou'd better watch out.

l know, l'm losing customers.

Listen, Υounes.

We union guys are getting organised.

We're meeting tonight. Why not come?

l told you, l'm not interested.

Would your dad like how you get the money you send home?

Mind your own business!

Υou knowwhy l'm here.

Τo make my cash and go home.

Dear brother, l hope this lletter finds you all well.

Did yοu get the latest money l sent?

l hope the work on the house is going well.

Ενerything's good here.

Cousin Ali is fine.

We work hard at the factory. l miss yοu all.

Ηe's been out all day.

Police!

ldentity check!

Face the wall.

Search the rooms.

What's this?

Τake him away.

Moνe!

Αnswer the lieutenant.

Τell us where Αli is hiding.

l don't know. l'm not involved in that.

Υou're lying.

l know nothing.

Who are those goods f or?

Me.

Τake him away.

Υounes Bendaoud!

Follow me.

Been in Paris long?

Since 1939, sir.

Αre you practising?

l don't understand.

Do you attend the mosque?

On holidays, sometimes.

Ηere's a deal.

Be useful to us

and keep your business.

- What do l have to l do? - Αttend the mosque.

Report everything to me.

Τell me who comes and goes, who visits the Director.

Every outsider you see, tell me.

Got it?

Everything OK?

Τhis is the Koran l was telling you about.

Τhe Sultan himself gave it to the mosque.

lt's infinitely precious to us.

Υou see?

Every letter is covered in gold.

Beautif ul work.

Τell me, Υour Excellency,

howfares our little business?

l've submitted your dossier.

lt's with the Royal Palace in Rabat.

l imagine it's only a matter of weeks,

if not days now.

Ηow can l thank you?

Τhat's a smart suit.

Τoday is an important holiday.

lt's the Prophet's birthday.

Everybody's all dressed up.

What's the word in Αrabic?

Mabruk!

Major, l'm impressed.

Major, please!

Τhank you.

Ηe's a young Αlgerian singer.

l think he'll be a star one day.

Τhey say his voice is among the best in the Αrab world.

l must go.

As you wish. l'll see you out.

Υou want something?

l have a darbuka to sell. Αre you interested?

Show me.

lt's not here. l can bring it tomorrow.

Υou know the Αndalussia Club?

Bring it there tomorrow.

What do you want?

Τo see Salim.

Someone to see you.

Let's see.

Real rubies.

Where did you get it?

My family.

lt was Ηadj El Αnka's. Υou know him?

l'll give you 800.

Francs?

Why, isn't it enough?

Ηere.

l'm singing here tomorrow. Be my guest.

lsn't it beautif ul?

Υou got more stuff like that?

Depends what you want.

Τhis confidant murmuring secrets to you

Gives you the hope of reaching the sanctuary

Αccept his word until your dying breath

Ηe is not asking f or alms,

but f or kindness

God bless your parents

and grant you long lif e.

Before we visit the Αndalusian-style garden,

admire the doorway ofthis prayer room.

lt is used on holidays when the main prayer room is full.

Now let's visit the beautif ul Αndalusian garden.

Τhere is disapproval in Marseille

of your collaboration with the French.

What should l do?

Let the Germans take my mosque?

Τhere was a holiday crowd.

Ben Ghabrit was showing a German officer around.

Τhey listened to music. Τhey seemed friendly.

ls that all?

When the Germans had gone, Ben Ghabrit went offwith the lmam.

Ηe looked bothered.

Τhen what?

l don't know.

Ηe went out alone in the evening.

Αlone?

Where to?

l don't know. Ηe droνe off.

lnteresting.

But l need to know more.

Τhe mosque is issuing fake certificates.

l need to knowwho f or.

Ηave you seen these people there?

Υou know him?

No, but...

l may have seen him in a night club.

Α f riend of Salim's.

Ηe's never at the mosque.

Who is Salim?

Ηe's a singer.

Ηe has a great voice.

Don't bullshit me.

Ηis name is Salim Ηalali.

Ηe's Αlgerian. We met at the mosque.

Ηe sings at the Αndalussia.

Τhat's all l know.

Find out about him.

What's he plotting with that communist?

Τake this.

Keep me informed and you'll get plenty more.

Omar!

What are you doing here?

l need to replenish my stock.

l told you not to come here.

- Meet me tonight. - l'm busy tonight.

l get off in an hour. Wait outside.

One hour.

Τhe days...

Α curse on all those days...

Τhose days of pain and sorrow!

l love a girl from Αndalusia

Υoung and dazzling as a meteor

God, how beautif ul she is!

Τhose captivating eyebrows...

With their beguiling curves...

Leave her lover sighing

l love a girl from Αndalusia

Υoung and dazzling as a meteor

Ηer dark eyes, driving me insane...

Ηer wild hair, flowing like a mane...

Ηow can l get close to her?

Praise the creator of such beauty!

Τhe girls here are stunning.

- Ηello, Salim. - Ηi, Jeannot.

Ηow's it going?

Ηow do you like the blonde?

Υou kidding?!

Ηave a drop.

Υour health.

Slowly! lt's not tea.

- Ηi, Salim. - Ηi, darling.

See you later.

Υou know people here.

Τhey all know me.

Υou know,

when l arrived in Marseille, l was onlyjust 14. l knew nobody.

No club would listen to me. Now l want to enjoy it.

When the war is over, l hope to open my own club in Paris.

Τhe "lsmailia Follies".

God willing.

Cheers, brother.

Slow down! l'm drunk.

l told you it wasn't tea.

DECREE OF JUNE 6ΤΗ, 1942

Forbidding Jews to perform on stage...

What does it say?

Just bullshit. Come on.

Who is it?

Larbi. Let me in!

Τhis was sent to the club.

"No Jew may perform on stage..."

l know, l know!

l can't risk having the police close my club.

Υou betterwatch yourself . Τhere are inf ormers everywhere.

Get off my back! Who cares about that crap?

Nobody stops me singing!

Τell me about the singer.

We went out drinking in Pigalle last night.

Ηe lives in the 1 1th.

What do you know about him?

What is it?

Τalk!

Why are you here?

l often see you at the mosque but never in the prayer room.

Prayer lets us stand back

f rom the world we live in.

Don't you think?

What are you doing here?

What do you want?

We need to talk.

Not now. l'm busy.

We need to talk.

Now!

l said l'm busy.

l've been expecting you.

l've known about you all along.

Υou haven't been very subtle...

but l didn't know they were investigating Salim.

Does he know?

l tried to tell him but...

What should l do now?

lt's up to you. l don't want to know.

Υou should try the mosque's steam bath.

Αli!

l thought you were dead!

Cousin!

Τhe police are after you.

Come here.

Υou put me in the shit.

Τhe cops raided the hotel and questioned me. l almost got shot.

What got into you?

Τake it easy.

l tried to keep you out of it.

l'vejoined the Resistance.

l'm hiding here till things calm down.

Nobody must know l'm here.

Forget you saw me.

Why fight? lt's not our war.

l'm fighting f or freedom.

ln France today, Αlgeria tomorrow...

and all North Αf rica.

l just spoke to Ben Ghabrit.

Why are they after me?

What have l done wrong?

Relax. Τhey don't know you're Jewish.

l'm sorry about last time.

l wasn't alone.

Τhe past is past.

Let me buy you a drink.

Where is he?

What's the matter?

l want to back out.

l raise a toast to French-Αrab friendship

and congratulate Ηis Excellency,

Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit,

our minister plenipotentiary and envoy of the Sultan of Morocco,

f or facilitating contacts between France and North Αf rica,

Lebanon, Syria, and the Muslim world in general.

Υour Excellency, on behalf of Marshal Petain and France,

l salute your eminent role

in sealing the friendship between our countries.

Τhank you, Minister.

Υour health.

Please be seated.

Excuse me.

Minister,

may l have a word in private?

Please, come in.

Ηave a seat.

Minister, l'd like to know what's behind this charade.

What do you mean?

Υou heap praise on me with one hand

and deny me your trust with the other.

Dear friend, please explain!

Τhe immigration police

have sent a man to spy on the mosque.

Τhat's unacceptable. l disapprove entirely.

l had no part in it.

l'll take it up with the lnterior Minister.

Welcome. Enjoy your meal.

Υounes!

What's up?

What are you doing here?

Eating.

Υou should eat downstairs with us.

l need your help.

l need to take some papers to a place in the 1 1th

but l can't be seen outside.

Go after dark.

lt'll be too late.

What are the papers?

Fake papers f or an Αlgerian family in danger.

l'm not taking risks f or strangers. l'm in enough trouble.

l can't ask anyone else.

Do it f or me.

ldiot! Υou were spotted!

Τhe deal's off.

Got it?

Stay out of my way, or else!

Get out.

Τhey've gone.

Τhey were arrested this morning.

What did you want?

l had something f or them.

Αre you a relative?

No.

Can you spare a minute?

Please.

Τheir parents brought them just before the police came.

Τhey can't stay.

What can you do?

Me, nothing.

l've got papers...

Τhey can't stay here.

Τhe block warden says the police will search the building.

Τhey'll find them here.

l don't knowwhat to say.

Who are they?

Orphans.

Orphans?

Where are your parents?

What's your name?

Τell me your name.

Sarah Bensoussan.

Sorry. Τhey can't come in.

Τhey have nobody.

l can't help that.

We want no trouble here.

l know, but what can l do?

Τake them back to whoever gave them to you.

l'm not taking them back. Please...

- We want no trouble. - Τhey're staying.

Children, go with the man.

Let them in!

But these children are Jews.

Τhey are our children.

With all due respect, we should not interfere with German...

l know. Τhat's enough!

Υes, sir.

Move along. Go back to your prayers.

Come, children.

l'm proud of you, Υounes.

l knew l could count on you.

Come in!

Τhis is Francis.

Ηe was at the factory with us.

Ηe was a union man. Now he's a freedom fighter like us.

Pleased to meet you, Υounes.

What's new?

Υou can talk. Υounes is my cousin.

Be a good girl, now.

lt's saf er indoors.

What's up?

Visitors.

Τhey should be indoors.

Go inside, children.

What's wrong, Sarah?

Nothing.

Major,

you haven't said what brings you here...

but if it's about...

your medal, l'm af raid l've had no...

Υour Excellency.

l have something to discuss with you

in private.

Certainly.

What is that?

lt's from the Deputy Policy Chief

of the Vichy Ministry of Police

to the Minister.

"Τhe Occupation authorities suspect

"the staff at the Paris mosque

"of fraudulently supplying Jewish individuals

"with papers falsely certifying

"that they are Muslims.

"Τhe lmam has been ordered to desist or be punished.

"lt seems that many Jews will stoop to anything

"in order to conceal their identity."

Major,

l don't believe a word of it.

l trust our lmam implicitly.

Ηe alone has the power to issue these certificates.

But our community has enemies.

l will not let them tarnish the mosque's reputation.

Τhen...

get a new lmam.

But Major, that's impossible!

ln that case,

if it happens again,

my superiors will hold you responsible.

Ηave you seen Salim around?

Ηow are things?

OK.

What are you reading?

Looks interesting.

Can you read?

l get by.

l took French lessons at the factory.

"We are a people.

"We haνe a common language, the rich language that is Arabic.

"We haνe a glorious past.

"We haνe all it takes to be a people.

"When we say 'the Algerian people',

"we make no distinction of race.

"When we demand uniνersal suffrage,

"we demand it for every member of the Algerian people."

Messali Ηadj.

l need eggs, Υounes. Αt least a dozen.

l'm done with the black market.

Τhanks f or the book.

l read some of it. lt made me think.

Want a hand?

Go on then.

Not bad!

Neither are you.

lt comes from living alone.

What brought you to Paris?

My cousin Αli.

Ηe's been here f or ten years.

Ηe got me ajob in a factory just before the war.

l did it f or two years.

Τhen l got ill.

With what?

Τuberculosis.

l was in Bobigny Ηospital f or weeks.

l survived, thank God.

Pass me the brush.

l lost myjob but l'm still in one piece.

Ηow about you?

l'm here f or family reasons.

Family in Paris?

Α brother in Germany.

Doing what?

Ηe's in a prison camp.

God willing, he'll soon be free.

Maybe we could see each other somewhere else.

Would you mind leaving us f or a moment?

What's going on?

l'vejust heard...

there's going to be a big police raid

in the 1 1th district.

l don't knowwhat they're planning...

but l advise you to leave France.

Go to Morocco.

Υou'll be saf e there. My friends will give you shelter.

l can't leave Paris yet.

l have to find someone.

As you wish.

l want to stay put as long as l can.

Τhe certificate will keep me saf e.

Not any more, it won't.

Τhe Germans know they're fake.

Listen, Salim...

if you get arrested...

tell them your father lies buried in the Muslim cemetery in Bobigny.

My father?

lt proves beyond doubt

that you're a Muslim.

Leila's been gone since this morning.

Where did she go?

Τo meet some people.

Who?

Don't be too inquisitive. We'll find out more tonight.

Ηe's with me.

..banned from the Party f or collaborating with the fascists.

Exactly one year ago,

Messali Ηadj got 16 years hard labour f or refusing to collaborate.

Wait here.

Ηe refused the bait

because he rejects every f orm of fascism.

Like him, we believe we will never be f ree

unless we wage war on colonialism and fascism.

Long live freedom! Down with colonialism

and fascism!

Τhe police caught Leila.

Τhey were tipped off. Τhey raided the barge.

Τipped ooff? What was she doing on a barge?

Ηelping comrades who'd escaped from a German prison camp.

Why did you involve her?

She knewwhat she was doing. Ηer brotherwas one ofthem.

Wasn't he due f or release?

Ηe helped stage a riot in the camp.

Τhey were all going to be shot.

Jew?

Ηands up!

Ηe's not Jewish. Ηe's a Muslim.

Αre you sure?

Where have you been?

Listen, Salim.

Τhe police are outside arresting everyone.

Αre you listening?

Υou knowwho he is? Mohamed Adbelwahab.

l've always dreamed of singing with him. Listen.

l pay my respects

to one of the best voices l've ever heard.

Salim Ηallali!

Salim,

would you mind joining me on stage?

Τhank you.

Salim Ηallali? Police! Come with us.

Moνe!

Τoday,

thousands of Jewish families were arrested

all oνer Paris.

Men, women and children.

Τhere is something...

terrible about to happen.

What can we do f or Salim?

Υou knowwhere the Muslim cemetery is?

Well?

Ηe says he's a Muslim.

ls this your only proof?

Who says you're not an Αlgerian Jew?

My father lies buried in the Muslim cemetery.

Check it out.

Where's the grave?

Υou'd better find it!

Si Brahim Ηallali lies here, called to God

Can you get me a gun?

What f or? Υou're saf e now.

Τhat's what l thought before.

Next time l'll put up a fight.

Don't worry, there won't be a next time.

Who carved the gravestone?

Was it you?

Τake your coat.

Don't stay here.

Τhis is the Free French Radio in London.

Τhis morning, 75,000 British and American troops

landed in Morocco and Algeria under General Εisenhower.

Τhe success of Operation Τorch was aided by French Resistance units

joining the Allies in the war against Ηitler.

ln his speech, General de Gaulle hailed the Free French Forces

fortheir courage and determination.

And now some personal messages.

Τhe tiger has eaten the lobsters.

l repeat...

Υour Excellency.

Welcome, Major.

So!

Can l finally see the medal?

Ηave a seat.

Υou know it's been awarded to you.

But you'll have to go to Morocco to receive it officially.

Τhe Sultan is attached

to tradition.

Go to Morocco?

Υou'rejoking. Τhe Αmericans have occupied.

l'm sorry, Major.

No one can receive this royal medal

unless they f ollow the protocol.

Τhe Order of Ouissam Αlaouite

is the highest distinction.

Only the Sultan himself can bestow it.

Υou're very cunning.

But l have some bad news f or you too.

So far, the German authorities

have been soft on you, to avoid antagonising Muslims.

But things have changed.

Τhe Gestapo counter-espionage unit

is investigating you.

Υou are in danger.

l thought you should be warned.

ln danger? For what reason?

l don't know yet.

But you do,

l'm sure.

Τhis is the last time we'll meet.

l have to leave Paris.

Did you have any trouble?

Francis came to see you.

Αbout what?

Leila.

lt's looking bad f or her.

Τhey made her brother talk. She could be shot.

Shot? Why?

lt's time you knew the truth.

Ηer name isn't Leila.

lt's Warda Slimane.

She's a leading communist from Αlgeria.

She fled the mass arrests there a f ew months ago.

Τhe French police were after her.

Τhey're moνing her to Fresnes tomorrow.

Made in Germany. Τop quality.

Don't get caught with it.

lt's much riskier than peddling cigarettes.

l've never met you.

Who's it f or?

Friends.

Τhis war could bring us independence.

Plenty of guys think so.

l hope we don't get screwed over again.

God willing.

Love says,

"Whoever gives up his lif e

"is given a thousand and one liνes in exchange."

Who is it?

l'm busy.

Still asleep?

What do you want?

Will you sing at Maryvonne's birthday party?

l've stopped singing. Forget it.

Come on.

Get up.

Get dressed!

Leave me alone.

l told them you'd come. Don't disgrace me.

Will there be drink, at least?

What on earth has happened?

lsn't he Jewish?

- Why? - No reason.

l heard he was.

Married women have started using bad language

and turning away from their husbands

Τhe Υankees have landed with their bulging pockets

Τhey stroll the streets, attracting all the girls

Now my girl puts on airs because she's being courted

by the Αmericans

Everywhere you go, you hear "OK, OK"

Τhey give out candy, cigars and dollars

Old ladies buy nylons and scarves

Even little children get treats

f rom the Αmericans

Wherever you go, you hear "OK! Come on! Bye-bye!"

Ηappy birthday!

Τhanks, Omar. l haven't had chocolate f or ages.

lt's my pleasure.

Ηere, f or your friend Salim.

Looking f or Salim?

Ηe's upstairs.

l wasjust having a nap.

What?

Υour slice of cake.

No thanks. l've never cared f or chocolate.

Stop staring at me like that.

What's the matter?

Where are you going?

EXECUΤED ΤΗlS MORNlNG

Keep moνing.

What's going on?

Francis' group got raided.

Τhe Germans intercepted their radio.

Francis got hit. Ηe made it to Bobigny Ηospital.

We have to get there before the Gestapo

and bring him to the mosque. Warn Ben Ghabrit.

- l'm coming with you. - Τoo dangerous.

l said l'm coming.

Get down!

- We have to warn them. - Don't moνe!

Can you walk?

Don't worry, l'll be OK.

Ηe's lucky. No vital organs were hit but he lost a lot of blood.

- Where is he? - Sorry?

We know a terrorist came here f or treatment.

Αn injured man came and went, leaving no address.

l alerted the authorities at once.

l wouldn't advise going in. Τhat's the tuberculosis ward.

Go ahead, but at your own risk.

Τhat's Omar!

Υou know him?

Ηe's an lmmigration Bureau snitch.

So that's where he gets his goods from now.

What goods?

We're being f ollowed.

What do we do, Αli?

Speed up!

Τhey're catching up!

Faster!

Get out!

Υou won't escape alive! Surrender!

Run f or it!

Come out with your hands up!

Run!

Ηurry! Τhey're coming!

Υou should have warned me.

Υou acted without my approval.

Bobigny Ηospital is crawling with police spies.

lt's common knowledge.

Υou've endangered the mosque!

What possessed you?

Τhe mosque is now under 24-hour surveillance.

Τhe hospital's chief doctor has been executed.

Now l'll have to evacuate the basement.

l'll need your help.

lt's your chance to go back home.

- Back home? - Υour f riend Omar,

you knowwhat he did?

Ηe told the Gestapo you were at the hospital

on the day of the shootout

and now they're after you.

Ηurry up!

Seal off all the exits.

Ben Ghabrit told me you're leaving.

We may not meet again.

Αbout the other evening...

Τhe past is past.

Ηis sister's missing.

Where is she?

She went to get my teddy.

- l'll be back. - We'll wait.

What is all this?

Τoday is Eid, a Muslim holy day.

Please show some respect.

What you are doing is outrageous!

l'll report you to your superiors.

Colonel Knochen, the SS chief in Paris, wants to see you.

Come with us.

l'm scared of all the soldiers.

Don't worry. Come quick.

Please stand.

Now make your way

towards the exit, all together.

May God thank you.

Come on!

Τime to go.

Wait a little longer.

Ηere they come! Wait!

Go with your brother.

Αren't you leaving?

Paris, August 1944

Long live France!

Keep this f or me.

- Where are you going? - See you later.

Ηello.

l'm glad to see you're alive.

Ηow have you been?

Fine.

Αnd you?

Fine.

Ηave you heard from Salim?

Ηe's doing well.

Ηe's singing again.

Ηe went back to live in the 1 1th. Υou know he loνes it there.

Ηe often asks after you.

Υou should pay him a call. l'm sure he'd be pleased.

Won't you join us? Some f riends are here.

l understand.

Off you go.

Dear brothers,

we walk the road to glory with confidence.

We want to fight for ourfreedom

but there's no freedom without sacrifice.

Brothers, let us act!

We're ready to giνe our blood to free our country.

So let'sjoin forces with the French Resistance!

lfwe giνe the same blood,

we'll haνe the same rights on νictory day.

Long liνe the freedom of peoples! Long liνe brotherhood!

Down with colonialism! Down with fascism!

Long liνe freedom!

Afterthe war, Salim Ηallali opened the lsmailia Follies in Paris.

Ηe was the leading champion of North African music in Εurope.

Later, he moved to Casablanca,

where he founded North Africa's greatest cabaret, Le Coq d'Or.

Finally, he retired to Cannes, where he died in anonymity in 2005.

Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit was awarded the Resistance Rosette in 1947.

Ηe directed the Paris mosque until his death in 1954.

Ηe was buried in the grounds ofthe mosque.

Τhrough Younes, a character inspired by νarious free men of North Africa,

this film honours all the unnamed men and women who fought forfreedom. -uvl