The First Man

The First Man

101 mins | Drama | Sept. 9, 2011

Based on a novel that Albert Camus was working on when he died, we follow Jacques Comery as he travels back to Algeria in 1957, a place full of childhood memories. The country is split between those wanting to remain a part of France, and those demanding independence. Reminiscences of his mother, his stern grandmother and a young Arab boy come flooding back.

The First Man

101 mins | Drama | Sept. 9, 2011

The First Man
Based on a novel that Albert Camus was working on when he died, we follow Jacques Comery as he travels back to Algeria in 1957, a place full of childhood memories. The country is split between those wanting to remain a part of France, and those demanding independence. Reminiscences of his mother, his stern grandmother and a young Arab boy come flooding back.
IMDb rating 6.8
Producers France 3 Cinéma, Soudaine Compagnie, Maison de Cinema, Cattleya, Laïth Média, Rai Cinema
Original title Le Premier Homme
Directors Gianni Amelio
Writers Albert Camus, Gianni Amelio

Cast

Jacques Gamblin

as Jacques Cormery

Maya Sansa

as Catherine Cormery (1924)

Catherine Sola

as Catherine Cormery (1957)

Denis Podalydès

as Professor Bernard

Ulla Baugué

as Grandma

Nicolas Giraud

as Uncle Étienne (1924)

Nino Jouglet

as Jacques as a child

Djamel Hadj Saïd

as Hamoud as a child

Jean-Paul Bonnaire

as Uncle Étienne (1957)

Michel Crémadès

as Graveyard keeper

Mickaël Batret

as Student at the wheel (as Michael Batret)

Jean Benoit Souilh

as Student

Nicolas Lublin

as Journalist

Florent Chesne

as Student at the balcony

Franck Mercadal

as Speaker

Alexandre Michel

as Student

Barthélémy Gilet

as Jacques' classmate

Jean-Bastien Perichon

as Jacques' classmate

Nathan Blanchedan

as Jacques's classmate

Mohammed Boubker

as Dogcatcher

Mohammed Boubker Jr.

as Dogcatcher's son

Régis Romele

as Butcher

Jérôme Le Paulmier

as Mill owner

Adij Benguettat

as Mill owner's assistant

Celia Ouled Mohand

as Child at the tipography

Roumayca Abbou

as Child on the stairs

Ygal Egry

as French officer

Mohammed Zahir Taifour

as Hamoud's brother

Sacha Petronijevic

as Civil servant

Hanaë Bardiaux

as Girl in the bar

Maurice Antoni

as Examining teacher

Alexandre Delamadeleine

as Henri Cormery

Franck Beckmann

as Settler

Oualahi Messouda

as Aziz's mother