In 1911, a willful and determined man from peasant stock named Charles Saganne enlists in the military and is assigned to the Sahara Desert under the aristocratic Colonel Dubreuilh.
Gérard Depardieu
as Charles Saganne
Philippe Noiret
as Dubreuilh
Catherine Deneuve
as Louise
Sophie Marceau
as Madeleine
Michel Duchaussoy
as Baculard
Jean-Laurent Cochet
as Bertozza
Roger Dumas
as Vulpi
Jean-Louis Richard
as Flammarin
Robin Renucci
as Hazan
Sophie Grimaldi
as Mère de Madeleine
Hippolyte Girardot
as Courette
Saïd Amadis
as Amajar
