The First Man

Story

Synopsis

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.

Director

Gianni Amelio

Writers

Albert Camus, Gianni Amelio

Language

French

Country

Algeria, France, Italy

Release date

9 September 2011

Box office

$757,000

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Jacques Gamblin

  Jacques Cormery

• 

  Maya Sansa

  Catherine Cormery (1924)

• 

  Catherine Sola

  Catherine Cormery (1957)

• 

  Denis Podalydès

  Professor Bernard

• Ulla Baugué

  Grandma

• 

  Nicolas Giraud

  Uncle Étienne (1924)

• Nino Jouglet

  Jacques as a child

• Abdelkarim Benhabouccha

  Hamoud

• Hachemi Abdelmalek

  Aziz

• Djamel Hadj Saïd

  Hamoud as a child

• 

  Jean-Paul Bonnaire

  Uncle Étienne (1957)

• 

  Jean-François Stévenin

  Farmer