The Great Man
Two French legionnaires survive an ambush while on duty in Afghanistan, setting off opposing forces of loyalty, nationality, ethnicity and identity that will test their friendship. Divided into chapters that reflect the shifting identities of the film’s two main protagonists, Sarah Léonor’s sophomore feature mixes reserved formalism, empathetic visual storytelling and strong performances from Dardennes regular Jérémie Renier and newcomer Surho Sugaipov to enliven this fable of family, country and codes among men.
Description
The bonds of friendship survive the forces of nationality, ethnicity and identity in this story of two men and their intersecting fates. Hamilton and Markov, French Foreign Legion scouts in Afghanistan—so close, the narration tells us, that if one drinks water, it quenches the other’s thirst—are caught in an ambush while pursuing a leopard. When one abandons his weapon, contrary to Legion code, to save his fellow soldier, he puts his future and that of his young son at risk. For back in France, he is faced with a choice: accept an illegal status or re-enlist and once again abandon his familial duties. Divided into chapters that reflect the shifting identities of the film’s two main protagonists, Sarah Leonor’s (A Real Life, FCN 2010) sophomore feature mixes reserved formalism, empathetic visual storytelling and strong performances from Dardennes regular Jérémie Renier and newcomer Surho Sugaipov to enliven this fable of family, country and codes among men.
Trailer
Biographies
Sarah Leonor was born in Strasbourg, France. After studying the history of art and cinema, she directed several short films, some under the name Sarah Petit. Her first feature, A Real Life, premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2009.