Omar Sy regrets that some wars affect us more than others

This Wednesday January 4 Omar Sy will return to the big screen with Skirmishers. This French historical film will tell the fate of two Senegalese skirmishersfather and son, one of whom was forcibly conscripted to fight in the French ranks in 1917.

A tribute to the soldiers rarely mentioned in the memoirs

Self Skirmishers is a great opportunity to discover Omar Sy trying a whole new genre in cinema, the film is also a way to do it highlight a little-known aspect of the First World War.

In the columns of ParisianOmar Sy said that before meeting director Mathieu Vadepied on the set ofUntouchable, knew very little about the Senegalese skirmishers. However, these represent 180,000 men who fought between 1914 and 1918 and including 30,000 killed in combat.

With Skirmishersthe 44-year-old actor believes so “these stories will come out from under the rug”. Omar Sy made his wish ” bring back a little more detail and information about these soldiers who are so deserving » compared to their French colleagues, the Poilus.

When we come to tell the story of the Tirailleurs, the memory of the Poiluses is not erased, they add up, that is in fact our story, it is both. It is all these memories that need to be accepted and acknowledged.

We have to accept the story of others. One account doesn’t contradict the other, doesn’t cancel it, doesn’t deny it. It is the addition of all these stories that makes our common history.

” A war is humanity sinking, even when it is on the other side of the world »

In this interview with ParisianOmar Sy said he was surprised to see him some conflicts seemed to affect people more than othersciting the example of the war in Ukraine which makes a mess gates of europe. “Let’s remember that man is capable of invading, of attacking civilians, children. We have the impression that we have to wait for Ukraine to realize this. »

“I’m surprised people are so affected. Does that mean when he’s in Africa you’re less affected? I feel equally threatened when he is in Iran or Ukraine. A war is humanity sinking, even when it is on the other side of the world. »

The actor has also been charged the racism suffered by the Chinese during covid: “When he is far away, we tell ourselves that ‘they are savages over there, we don’t do that anymore’. Like Covid, at the beginning, we said: “it’s only the Chinese” .

Omar Sy’s observations on the hypocrisy of the French in the face of wars recall a flagrant difference in treatment in the reception of Ukrainian refugees compared to racialized refugeeshighlighting a state racism.

Featured Image Credit: © Gaumont