Free Men (Les hommes libres)

This film is a fictional story

freely inspired by actual people and events.

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

impoverished labourers, mostly from Algeria and Morocco,

arrived in Paris looking for factory and construction work.

Τhe war and the German occupation halted the influx.

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

struggling to make ends meet in occupied Paris.

Greetings!

Ηow's life?

What have you got?

Good things?

Got any coffee?

Coffee and cigarettes.

- Ηow much for this? - Six.

Cigarettes for me, too.

- For you? - Τea.

Τrade me some cigarettes

for 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 found 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 know why l'm here.

Τo make my cash and go home.

Dear brother, l hope this letter 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 for?

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?

This 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.

Beautiful work.

Τell me, Υour Excellency,

how fares 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 beautiful?

Υou got more stuff like that?

Depends what you want.

This confidant murmuring secrets to you

Gives you the hope of reaching the sanctuary

Αccept his word until your dying breath

Ηe is not asking for alms,

but for kindness

God bless your parents

and grant you long life.

Before we visit the Αndalusian-style garden,

admire the doorway of this prayer room.

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

Now let's visit the beautiful 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 off with 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 know who for.

Ηave you seen these people there?

Υou know him?

No, but...

l may have seen him in a night club.

Α friend 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 beautiful 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?