Tonight on TV: Two of France’s best actors join forces for a brutal and patriotic action film

In 2005, Stéphane Ribeaud made a documentary about the special forces in the program Envoyé Spécial. Fascinated by this unit of the French army, which has almost 3,000 men, he began writing and filming a feature film honoring their work. In this case, a special task force is responsible for the release of a great reporter held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Filmed with the help of the French army (Lieutenant Jackie Fouquereau, a former head of the army’s communications and well-versed in the intervention in Afghanistan, works especially as a technical adviser), the film benefits from a budget of about 10 lakhs. million euros. A hefty sum that allows the teams to film in Tajikistan and the surrounding Pamir Mountains.

Influenced by his past as a documentary filmmaker, Stéphane Riboujad still prefers the humanity of his characters to pure and hard action, thus approaching realistic war films such as Platoon, Black Falcon Fall or Mortar.

Thus, the filmmaker assembled his special unit Benoit Magimel (who had already worn the uniform of the French army in Intimate Enemy), Denis Menochet, Raphael Personaz, Alain Filartz and Djimon Hounsou, who took part in the training of the commandos. Lorient.

In addition to the physical investment, the actors also share an obvious complicity that enhances the authenticity of their on-screen relationships.

Special Forces by Stéphane Riboujad with Diane Kruger, Djimon Hounsou, Benoit Magimel…

from the age of 10

Tonight on CSTAR at 9:10 p.m.