In German-occupied Paris, a young unemployed Algerian named Younes (played by break-out star, Tahar Rahim) earns his living as a black marketeer. Arrested by the French police but given a chance to avoid jail, Younes agrees to spy on the Paris Mosque. The police suspect the Mosque authorities, including its rector Ben Ghabrit, of aiding Muslim Resistance agents and helping North African Jews by giving them false certificates. At the Mosque, Younes meets the Algerian singer Salim Halali, and is moved by Salim's beautiful voice and strong personality. When Younes discovers that Salim is Jewish, he stops collaborating with the police and gradually transforms from a politically ignorant immigrant into a fully-fledged freedom fighter.
- Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
- Country: France
- Genre: Drama | War
- Year: 2012
- Run Time: 01:38:53
- imdb Score: 6.8/10 (189 votes)
- Language: French
- Rating: Not Rated
- Cast: Tahar Rahim, Michael Lonsdale and Mahmud Shalaby
Peter Rainer - CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
"Morocco native Ismaël Ferroukhi draws on Paris history to dramatize the resistance by North African Muslim immigrants to the Nazis.... well-made..."
Bill Stamets - CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"Occupied Paris, as evoked by Ismaël Ferroukhi, is an unsettling mix of life-as-usual and sudden moments of terror... The final key ingredient in this cannily shot thriller and splendidly acted story is the music..."
Michael Upchurch - SEATTLE TIMES
"A testament to Rahim's screen presence… Free Men proves that the can't-take-your-eyes-off-him charisma the Franco-Algerian actor displayed in Jacques Audiard's "A Prophet" was no fluke."
David Fear - TIME OUT NEW YORK
Cannes Film Festival 2011
Toronto Int'l Film Festival 2011
Amsterdam Film Week 2011
Cinemania Film Festival, Canada 2011