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Synopsis: While the Nazis occupied most of France, Jacques (Vincent Perez) has been active in the liberation underground. Now that the allies have freed a significant portion of their country from Allied control, he and his buddy Michel (Matthieu Roze) can join the Free French Army and fight with them to help bring about the downfall of the German empire. Both of them are quite young men, and their first love turns out to be the same woman, a lovely nurse named Christiane (Geraldine Pailhas). Michel woos her first, and she becomes pregnant by him. However, she is much more interested in Jacques, even though she is considering marrying an American solely for practical reasons.

*****

"For Michel, the face of Matthieu Roze came to me quickly.  I remembered his frankness in Michel Legrand's film, Five Days in June. I had a little more problem finding Jacques, until my meeting with Vincent Perez. The tests immediately convinced me that he had the character and necessary qualities to stick to the character.  Jacques and Michel are friendly during childhood, while coming from different social backgrounds. Michel is idealistic with his way of  engaging in life, in love and in war while Jacques, because of his education, appears more lucid, even cynical."

*****

The setting of this film was based on the period during WWII between August 1944 and May 1945. In August 1944, when Paris was liberated, much of France believed that the war was over. However, it took nine more months of hard combat before the war ended. It was during the autumn of 1944 that Hitler used the first V1 and V2 missiles and also brought into service the 60-ton "Tiger" tank that proved superior to the American tanks. It was urgent to end the war. In June 1940, France had to overcome occupation, oppression, deportations and become a signaturer among the Allies present at the German surrender on May 8, 1945. This film highlights the courage and sacrifice of the F.F.I.. However, the filmmakers are not unaware of the courage and sacrifice of the F.T.P. nor of the Resistance, which contributed in other areas. But, above all, this film is a history of love and friendship.

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