My Son, the Soldier” (original title: Tirailleurs) is a haunting drama that tells the story of a Senegalese father, Bakary Diallo, and his son Thierno during the First World War. Thierno is drafted into the French army against his will, prompting Bakary to enlist as well to protect his son and save him from the horrors of war.
The story takes place at a time when colonial France is sending Senegalese soldiers to war. Bakary, a farmer and loving father, struggles against his son's departure from traditional family ties and the call of honor and courage that the army brings. Thierno develops a strong ambition and begins to prove himself in the military environment, which leads to a creeping estrangement between father and son. While Bakary tries to protect Thierno from the dangers of war, he realizes that his son wants to adapt to the reality of military life.
The conflict between his father's care and Thierno's desire to find his own way forms the center of the film. The relationship between the two protagonists develops amidst the horrors of war, and the theme of colonial exploitation is strongly emphasized through the depiction of Senegalese soldiers fighting for a country that often considers them less valuable.