In 1914, some patriotic Frenchmen, living in a small town on the west coast of Africa, find out about the war with Germany, declaring: "I would have thought it would be with England." Immediately, the lazy sergeant organizes his little army of ill-trained natives, and marches on the neighboring German fort, accompanied by shopkeepers and their wives. To everyone's surprise, German fire power cuts down the advancing mob, leaving Hubert, a righteous young geologist in charge. Accompanied by his black mistress, Hubert bulldozes the "troops" into a semblance of order. What ensues is a subtly funny statement on war and power. This Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film is one of the greatest works in the diverse career of French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud (THE BEAR/THE NAME OF THE ROSE).