Kent Gurkha Campaign Goes to the movies (South East Region Liberal Democrats)

South East Region Liberal Democrats <info@southeastlibdems.org.uk>

Kent Gurkha Campaign Goes to the movies

February 5, 2007 6:02 PM

Days of Glory poster The producers of the Oscar nominated movie 'Days of Glory' have invited Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll and other members of the Gurkha justice campaign to a special preview of the film. The film details the injustices that Arab soldiers suffered in the French Army even though many thousands of them fought and died for France in the Second World War. The producers believe there are strong parallels in the film to the plight of the many thousands of Gurkha veterans who fought and died for Britain over many decades.

The power of the film is such that it has brought about political law changes in many of the countries in which it has opened including France, Belgium and Italy. As was widely reported in the press last year during the French release, Jacques Chirac changed the law so as to 'unfreeze' colonial troops' pensions after seeing the film.

Peter Carroll, who campaigns on behalf of the Gurkhas said, 'This invitation came entirely out of the blue. We will be attending this special preview and hope that the film's release later in the year will make many British politicians realize that our country is treating its Gurkha heroes every bit as poorly as France betrayed the foreign nationals who fought for them'.

The event is being held in Covent Garden on the evening of Tuesday 6th February 2007.

Further details on the film:

Metrodome Film Distribution are delighted to invite you to attend a free exclusive preview screening. Directed by Rachid Bouchareb, starring Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, Bernard Blancan

Date: Tuesday 6th February

Time: 6pm for 6:30pm start

Venue: The Hospital, 24 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London

Feel free to forward this invitation to people within your organisation who you think might be interested in attending.

In 2006, there was one film that was so powerful, it would change the course of history...

1943. They had never set foot on french soil, but because France was at war, four young Algerian men, Said, Abdelkader, Messaoud and Yassir, enlisted in the French army along with 130,000 other 'indigenous soldiers', to liberate the 'fatherland' from the Nazi enemy.

DAYS OF GLORY chronicles the story of these forgotten heroes, the injustices they faced at the time of war, and the discrimination they have subsequently encountered from the French authorities. After seeing the film, French President Jacques Chirac agreed to restore veterans' pensions to the North Africans who fought alongside French troops during the war.

A movie can make a difference...

As well as being OSCAR-nominated and winning the Best Actor Award at Cannes for its ensemble cast, DAYS OF GLORY will be screening as the Closing Night Film at this year's Human Rights Watch Film Festival. With the nationwide cinema release of this film we are aiming to raise awareness of the social injustices faced by those forgotten heroes who risked their lives fighting to liberate nations that were not their own. DAYS OF GLORY is also a film that gives back Arab Muslims their rightful place as heroes of World War II and is a reminder that those people who are sometimes portrayed as enemies today in the right-wing media, were once allies, fighting side-by-side for freedom, honour and equality. On hearing the news of the OSCAR nomination, the creators of DAYS OF GLORY, Rachid Bouchareb an Jean Brehat stated:

"What makes us most happy is that an American academy has chosen a film about Arab heroes in World War II. This is a side of America that Bush would make us forget. It is heartening that Academy members can make the distinction and show their support for people America treats as as the enemy today."