In 1956, Daniel Vérin, a young French schoolteacher born in Algeria, became involved in the struggle for independence, joining the ranks of the National Liberation Front and then the National Liberation Army. Considered a rebel, he was actively sought by the French government.
At the end of the war, Daniel – renamed Ali – became an Algerian citizen and left for the United States to pursue his studies. But three years later, he was refused entry to his native country... Now stateless, he eventually obtained American nationality. It would be another 40 years before he was allowed back into Algeria.
How did young Daniel become Ali the revolutionary fighter? At a time when the Arab Spring is in full swing, he recalls the struggles of his youth. Combining the testimonies of those closest to him – his friends and family, his former students and his comrades in arms – with those of historians, and blending archival documents with current shots, this documentary paints the portrait of a man imbued with republican values and a deep attachment to his homeland. Beyond his singular destiny, this documentary sheds light on the history of those intellectuals who fought body and soul for the liberation of Algeria.
Direction: Georges Vérin & Maurice Ferlet
Production: La Compagnie des Taxi-Brousse for France Télévisions