Fort Sagan

Lieutenant Charles Sagan, a native of a peasant family, goes to serve in Algeria in the hope of a career and glory. Arriving at the place of service, Sagan plunges into the garrison life and the leisurely pace of life of local society. Madeleine de Saint-Ilette, the daughter of one of the local French, falls in love with a tall lieutenant. Soon Sagan sent with an expedition to the desert.

The French detachment was sent to the desert in order to pacify the local tribes who wished to oppose French rule in this part of the Sahara. Sagan, who made an accidental acquaintance with the leader of one of the tribes, soon goes in search of this tribe, suddenly withdrawn from the nomad and went further into the desert.

Sagan's squad, consisting of Algerian riflemen and several white officers, overcoming difficulties, goes through the desert. People suffering from heat, with all their strength, look for the missing tribe and, finally, find it in an ambush. Among the bodies of the fallen, Sagan equips a still living leader, who managed to independently sew up wounds on his chest, but did not have time to bandage his badly damaged leg. Sagan with his own hands amputates the leg and saves the leader's life.

The death of the tribe brings fear to the remaining tribes and they return under the patronage of France. Sagan, who returned to the garrison, gains the glory of a hero. Colonel Dubrell, who understands that the peace with the natives is fragile, wants to deliver a preemptive strike against the leader of the rebels, but he cannot do this without sanction from Paris . Sagan sent to Paris for permission. The Parisian public warmly greets the hero, but diplomats refuse to Sagan, explaining the refusal by the proximity of the war with Germany.

In Paris, Sagan has an affair with a famous writer, but they break up after she learns about Sagan's behavior towards his younger brother's bride.

Sagan returns to Algeria and soon with honor withstands the attack of the natives who decided to drive out the French. Later, the lieutenant asks for the hands of Madeleine de Saint-Ileth and marries her.

A happy couple leaves for France and settles in the house that Sagan dreamed of buying as a boy. There they receive news of the outbreak of the First World War .

Algerians, commanded by Sagan, are transferred to France, where all the hardships of the trench war fall upon them. People who have passed along with Sagan all the difficulties of serving in the desert die in suicidal attacks on German positions. Soon, bullets overtook Sagan himself ...

After the war, the widow of Sagan and his little son arrive at the fort, where the lieutenant once served. The former commander of Sagan holds the ceremony of naming the fort in the name of the deceased hero. The native leader, once saved by Sagan, oversees the ceremony, after which he gives the younger Sagan a camel and a saddle, paying tribute to the deceased father of the boy.

• Gerard Depardieu - Charles Sagan
• Philippe Noiret - Dubrel
• Catherine Deneuve - Louise
• Sophie Marceau - Madeleine de Saint-Ilet
• Michel Duchossois - Bakular
• Hippolyte Girardeau

• Director - Alain Korno
• Screenwriters - Alain Corno, Henri de Turenne, Louis Gardel, Louise Gardel, Bernard Gordon, Philip Jordan
• Producer - Samuel Bronston
• Composer - Philip Sard
• Operator - Bruno Nuitten
• Montage - Thierry Derocles, Robert Lawrence
• Costumes - Veniero Solazanti, Rosin Delamar , Corinne Zhorri

• 1985 - nomination for the Cesar Award for the best costumes ( Rosin Delamar and Corinne Zhorri)