The Great Man (Le Grand Homme)

Hamilton (Jérémie Rénier) and Markov (Surho Sugaipov) are about to finish five years of service in the Foreign Legion. During their six-month posting in Afghanistan, they wind up amidst a crossfire while out on an impromptu and unauthorized leopard hunt. After Hamilton is shot and nearly killed, Markov risks his own life to save him at the expense of his own dreams of gaining French citizenship. Later, Hamilton is reunited with Markov in Paris. Whilst Hamilton remains in the Foreign Legion, Markov ekes out a meager existence as an illegal immigrant, trying to provide for his young son Khadji. When Markov is killed in an accident, Hamilton is now served by conscience to look after the kid of the man who saved his life.

This intimate drama starring newcomer Surho Sugaipov and Dardenne brothers’ regular Jérémie Rénier (The Child, The Kid with a Bike), depicts the traumas of war and immigration: it is a powerful story about friendship and solidarity and takes a closer look at how men try to piece their lives back together when they’ve been shattered by war.

Sarah Leonor war born in Strasbourg, France, in 1970. After studying History of Art and Cinema Sarah Leonor directs her first short films in the 1990s. The collaboration with her present-day producer Michel Klein begins a little later with the short film L’ARPENTEUR that they codirect in 2001. Michel Klein follows her steps from then on and produces her films LE LAC ET LA RIVIÈRE, LA GOUTTE D’OR (directed under the name of Sarah Petit) as well as her first feature A REAL LIFE (AU VOLEUR) starring Guillaume Depardieu, Florence Loiret Caille and Jacques Nolot. A REAL LIFE is part of the competition of Locarno IFF in 2009 and Guillaume Depardieu is awarded as the Best Male Actor.