Cineuropa reminds us that production began this week on Ismaël Ferroukhi’s sophomore feature – Free Men (Les Hommes Libres) posits Tahar Rahim in a role that might recall of his obvious breakout role – the Cesar Best Actor winning part in A Prophet. Ferroukhi directed Le grand voyage (a Film Movement title) back in 2004, and has worked on shorts film since. I wouldn’t be surprised if this picture isn’t ready for May of next year: Rahim might be there with a pair (Lou Ye’s Love And Bruises), actors Mahmoud Shalaby and Michael Lonsdale – again both were predominately profiled in Cannes in the previous two editions, Ferroukhi himself a 1992 short film win at the French festival and Pyramide Productions are said to be releasing Free Men midway next year. Here’s a rather long synopsis which is where we find the behind bars connection.
Arrested by the French police, Younes is accused of complicity and threatened with being shot. But the police detective offers him a deal: his freedom in exchange for keeping surveillance over the Paris Mosque, which is suspected of helping Resistance fighters and Jews. In the Mosque, Younes meets Algerian-born singer Salim Halali. Touched by his voice and personality, he becomes friends with him, discovering soon afterwards that he is Jewish. Despite the risks, Younes puts an end to his collaboration with the police. A friendship is born between Younes and Salim, which develops as events unfold.
Anti-Jewish laws and German repression don’t prevent Salim from continuing his activities as a singer. But the net gradually tightens around him. One evening, Salim is arrested by the Gestapo who suspect him of hiding his Jewish identity. Faced with this barbarity, immigrant worker Younes, who has no political education, gradually turns into a freedom activist.
