A World War II drama where people, many of whom opposed to Nazism, get on board a train from France that could lead them to freedom.
Based on a true story, a World War II drama where, after France capitulates over Germany, all German and Axis citizens are to be imprisoned. The Army selects an old factory in Provence called Les Milles which will be converted to a war prisoner camp. People from all areas of society will share the prisoner's life where very important intellectuals, artists and scientists who had fled the Nazi regimes, find themselves sharing the space with spies, Nazi politicians and captured soldiers leading to a very explosive atmosphere. This camp is led by a war veteran who suffered gazing is sufficiently impaired to avoid to be sent to the front against Germany. As a military man of honour, he considers that all persons under his command are not only prisoners but under his protection.
With the help of the American consulate in Bordeaux, after the camp chief realizes that all these people would be turned to the Nazis when France capitulated, he decides, in a generous gesture for saving lives, to organize the defection of those many whom opposed to Nazism, getting them on board a train that could lead them to freedom. By doing so, his gesture oif bravery would be officially understood as an act of disobedience bringing to be court martialled and forgotten until this movie came about.
