Army of Crime

Army of Crime is a historical drama that traces the life of Missak Manouchian, an Armenian born woodworker who becomes a political organizer for Paris's immigrant community during World War II. He joins and leads a committed group of laborers turned resistance fighters, carrying out dozens of clandestine missions against the Nazi occupation in 1943. The film shows how the group, branded by the regime as an Army of Crime, faces harsh propaganda and public suspicion while capturing the imagination of ordinary Parisians who rally to their cause. The focus remains on personal bonds, moral choices, and the toll of clandestine work. The tone is earnest and restrained, offering a human scale to a larger conflict. The film respects history.

Directed by Robert Guédiguian and released in 2009, Army of Crime maps the life of Missak Manouchian and the Paris resistance network, with a screenplay by Serge Le Peron and Gilles Taurand. The production blends archival mood with driven performances.

Box office data for Army of Crime is not widely published, and the film had a modest release outside major markets. It did not become a blockbuster, and its commercial footprint remains limited to niche streaming and festival circuits worldwide.

The cultural footprint is modest but real, as the film puts immigrant voices and Parisian workers at the center of a crucial wartime story. By foregrounding everyday life under occupation and a heterogeneous cast, it reframes a famous chapter and keeps the memory of these fighters in public dialogue.

Reception and themes note a restrained yet empathetic handling of loyalty, identity, and collective action. Critics see Guédiguian blend historical detail with character driven drama, avoiding melodrama while highlighting personal costs. The film invites reflection on how memory, community bonds, and moral choices shape resistance beyond battlefield feats today everywhere.