Based on a novel by Philippe Labro who was himself a journalist in the ranks of the French army in 1960.
However ,the action takes place after the Evian agreement ;the movie deals with terrorism caused by the OAS ,an illegal military organization supporting French rule in Algeria in the sixties .
Because he detained photographs of the members of the OAS , the young soldier's friend is murdered.In a country far from being pacified ,he investigates , and will be surprised when he knows the hidden side of the affair in the last sequence .
The depiction of the country is realistic and interesting ,but the plot is not.The cast is not,with two exceptions,up to scratch :Manuel Blanc ,who was excellent in Deray 's "un crime" ,an intimate drama,lacks charisma for this kind of part;Rufus seems ill -at-ease in a part of a tough officer and overplays whereas his performances are generally restrained ;but Maria De Medeiros is the worst ,
an affected soap opera playing.
The seasoned actors,although their role is minimum ,walk away with the honors :Daniel Gelin is deeply moving , as a pied-noir ( French colonial born in Algeria) ,nostalgic for his lost paradise ,who reproaches the French army for having betrayed them ;Christophe Malavoy is equally efficient as a mysterious captain who easily steals the show in the last scene.
