( L'honneur d'un capitaine ) is a 1982 French war drama and courtroom film directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer . The story centers on Patricia Caron ( Nicole Garcia ), who sues a sociology professor for defamation after he publicly accuses her late husband, Captain Caron ( Jacques Perrin ), of being a war criminal who practiced torture during the Algerian War . Key Film Details Release Date: December 29, 1982 (France).
117 minutes (approximately 1 hour 57 minutes). Primary Cast: Jacques Perrin as Captain Caron. Nicole Garcia as Patricia Caron. Charles Denner as Maître Gillard. A Captain's Honor (1982)
The narrative structure follows a dual timeline: the where Patricia fights to clear her husband's name, and numerous flashbacks to the Captain's final two weeks in Algeria. Through these investigative retracings, the film explores themes of military honor, the moral complexities of "dirty wars," and the personal toll of historical re-evaluation. ( L'honneur d'un capitaine ) is a 1982