Watch Les Bleus - Une autre histoire de France, 1996-2016

Les Bleus - Une autre histoire de France, 1996-2016 is a French documentary film that explores the journey of the French national football team over a period of two decades, from 1996 to 2016. The film is directed by Emmanuel Le Ber and Thibault Martin and was released on May 11, 2016. The documentary takes a unique approach to its subject matter, focusing on the team's rich cultural diversity and the role that it has played in shaping contemporary French identity. Through interviews with players, coaches, and other key figures, the film traces the team's evolution from a collection of disparate talents to a powerful symbol of national unity.

One of the central themes of the documentary is how the French national team's success has been influenced by the social and political currents of the last two decades. The filmmakers use a range of archival footage and interviews to explore the deep divisions that existed within French society during this period, particularly around issues of race, immigration, and nationalism.

Against this backdrop, the film shows how the French football team became a vehicle for national identity, drawing together players from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds to achieve great success on the international stage. The team's triumph at the 1998 World Cup – the first time the trophy had been won by a team of African and Caribbean descent – is a particular highlight of the documentary.

Throughout the film, the directors place a strong emphasis on the human stories behind the team's successes and failures. We learn about the players' childhoods, their emotional connections to the team, and the impact of their success on their personal and professional lives. There are also candid discussions of some of the team's more difficult moments, including the notorious players' strike at the 2010 World Cup.

The documentary is also notable for its striking visual style, which combines archival footage, live-action footage, and animated sequences to create a vivid, multi-layered portrait of French football culture. The film's use of computer-generated animations to show the movement of players on the pitch is particularly innovative and effective.

Overall, Les Bleus - Une autre histoire de France, 1996-2016 is an insightful and engaging documentary that offers a fresh perspective on a familiar subject. By focusing on the team's cultural diversity and its place in French national identity, the film sheds new light on both the team and the social and political currents of contemporary France. For anyone interested in football, French history, or contemporary politics, this is a film not to be missed.