Every May 8th we celebrate the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. But in Algeria, a French colony during World War Two, May 8th is a day of mourning. Carried away by the jubilation of victory, the Algerians dared ask for independence. The French colonial army responded with gunfire, setting off horrifically bloody clashes between Muslims and Europeans. The crackdown would last nearly 3 months and leave thousands Muslims dead. Mixing never-before-seen footage and personal accounts, our film raises the veil on the mechanisms and consequences of this violent colonial crackdown.

A film written by Yasmina Adi
Directed by Yasmina Adi
Image: Laurent Didier
Sound and original music: Pierre Carrasco
Editing: Claude Graton
Commentary by Alain Choquet

A Compagnie des Phares et Balises production
With the participation of France 2 and TV5 Monde
With the support of the Centre National du cinéma et de l’image animée, PROCIREP – Société des Producteurs de l’ANGOA, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

National Broadcaster : France 2

International Sales :
Al Jazeera Documentary Middle East
Public Sénat France
TV3 Catalunya
Slovak TV Slovakia
Planète + France
Medi1Sat Morocco
LCP France
Ayat Media Iran
TVP Historia Poland

© Cie des Phares & Balises – 2008