European War, 1914-1915. The African Zouaves in the Flanders (1915)

Produced by the French Film Chamber, the film shows Zuaven, an infantry unit of North African colonial soldiers, in Flanders, Belgium. In addition to a parade, the film shows various recreational activities of the soldiers, allegedly filmed one kilometer behind the front line: Front-line theater, boisterous games, boxing matches, and a wrestling match that is staged as a symbolic struggle between a white conqueror and an African colonized man.

"Zouaves d'Afrique dans les Flandres Belges" was distributed in the 28mm format that Pathé Frères introduced in France in 1912 and also marketed internationally. Unlike the 35mm nitrocellulose print commonly used for professional screenings, the 28mm material was flame-retardant, allowing such "safety films" to be shown without fire precautions, such as in home theaters. Shortly after the end of the war, Pathé Frères stopped marketing 28mm film in favor of other formats for safety films; it was probably not even marketed in Germany because of World War I. The version digitized here is the English distribution version of the film.

Intertitles:

1. Between two attacks the General reviews his warriors.
2: The Colour Seargeant.
3: At a 1.000 metres distance from the enemy. In spite of the imminent danger the Zouave retains his legendary good spirits.
4: The theatre in the dunes.
5: The wings.
6. The struggle.
7: White versus Black.
8: The n***** having lost colour it is difficult to distinguish the conqueror.
9: The boxing match.
10: The giddy skittle.
11: From time to time an aviatik comes to remind the jolly Zouaves that they are at war.