"FRANCE IS NOT AT WAR WITH YOU, BUT THE EMPIRE.
"YOU AND I ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE EMPIRE,
"YOU, IN YOUR COUNTRY, I, IN EXILE.
"BRAVE MEXICAN MEN, RESIST.
"THE ATTACK AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO
"lS A CONTINUATION OF THE ATTACK AGAINST THE FRENCH REPUBLIC."
VICTOR HUGO
Firing squad, ready!
Aim!
Fire!
AFTER LONG YEARS OF FIGHTING, "THE WAR OF REFORM" IS OVER,
AS BENITO JUAREZ AND HIS LIBERAL ARMY
DEFEAT THE CONSERVATIVE FORCES.
THE COUNTRY IS DEVASTATED AND IN BANKRUPTCY.
PRESIDENT JUAREZ IS FORCED TO SUSPEND
THE PAYMENT OF THE EXTERNAL DEBT.
THE CONSERVATIVE LEADERS FLEE TO EUROPE
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT TO THEIR CAUSE,
MEANWHILE, IN MEXICO, THEY TRY TO REGROUP THEIR ARMY...
PARIS, FRANCE, 1861
Is it your first time in France?
Yes, indeed. We came here because the Emperor invited us.
-Mr. Juan Nepomuceno Almonte? -Yes.
Mr. Gutierrez Estrada,
and Mr. Jose Maria Hidalgo?
His Imperial Majesty Napoleon III,
Emperor of France, will receive you now.
I have been informed about your project
to establish a French monarchy in Mexico.
Interesting.
President Juarez has announced the suspension
of payments of the external debt.
This is the perfect excuse.
Spain and England are very annoyed, too.
One way or another, we have their support.
I will send my troops, commanded by Count of Lorencéz.
It is a great honor, Your Highness.
Give him your support in Mexico.
Wise decision, Your Excellency.
-Thank... -Enough.
This way, gentlemen.
Remember, General,
our victory must be fast and blunt.
Your Highness,
Mexico will be no rival for us. In a month, it will be ours.
After that, take the troops to our allies of the U.S. Confederate Army.
As we agreed.
With our support,
they will defeat Lincoln's army, without a doubt.
General, one step at a time.
Mexico will be ours,
and the United States will be divided.
The future belongs to the French Empire.
VERACRUZ HARBOR, MEXICO, 1862
Corporal.
Artemio?
-Wake up! -What's going on?
Look.
We have to inform Captain León. You wait here.
France, England and Spain.
-Those are battleships. -Battleships?
-Captain, what is going on? -Don't you see?
They're invading us.
-What are we going to do? -What do you think?
-We won't let them in alive. -Are you crazy? Put that down!
You will get us in trouble, like you always do.
They are still far, you idiot. Don't be a coward.
We have already protested and invaders have stopped.
Minister Doblado,
begin diplomatic negotiations immediately.
I will, Mr. President.
We are confident that the weapon of reason will avoid
a greater bloodshed.
Don't expect a country
to move its troops to another continent and come back empty-handed.
We have to get ready for the worst.
Our military forces are inferior.
Mr. President, we don't have the resources to transport and feed our troops.
Exactly. That is why
we have to use reason
and strategy,
not in order to attack them,
but to defend ourselves.
Let's hope we don't have to fight against those three countries.
That
will depend mostly on you, Minister.
You will be the right hand of this nation.
However, we must get the left hand ready as well.
I don't understand, Mr. President.
I sent the general in charge of the defense his designation.
-Who is he? -Our war secretary.
General Ignacio Zaragoza.
Ignacio.
You have to go.
I will be fine.
I will look out for you from there.
For whatever you may need.
Don't let them take our country from us.
I won't.
I swear.
General Prim, these conditions are unacceptable!
This infernal weather is breaking our soldiers!
They throw up all the time!
We have to order the Mexican government to allow us to take our troops
inside the country, where the weather is less harmful.
We cannot order them, but we could ask for their permission, as a goodwill gesture.
We French don't ask for anyone's permission!
-Before our whole troops get sick... -I remind you that you are not alone.
France, Spain and England are allies, all decisions must be made in common.
-We must be careful. -Careful? About what?
The Mexican government should not take our request like a menace.
As if our troops were moving forward.
We have to show them our goodwill.
Let us hope for a decent answer from our Mexican friends.
Friends?
Okay, then. But take us out of this hell, General Prim!
Give him some water!
Take him to the shade. Dismissed.
-How many do we have? -Sixty, Captain.
So, you are coming with us, ma'am?
Of course!
My husband, God save his soul, was a soldier,
and now it's our turn to help our troops, isn't it?
Maybe the French will come to harm us and then what would we do?
What are you doing with that cannon?
It's stuck, Captain.
-Don't worry, we are pulling it out, right? -Yeah!
-Hurry up! -Yes!
-Wait, Juan. -What?
I'll help the lady.
-Here. -Oh, thanks.
Thanks.
Let me help you.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Here.
Come on, Juan! Hurry!
We need to get the cannon out of the mud!
Wait!
We have to help the lady, right? Wait!
If I wore a skirt, would you help me with the cannon?
No, I... I'm sorry, Captain!
Hurry up!
-Citlali! -Yes?
-What are you doing? -Nothing, aunt.
-Come on, hurry up! -Yes, yes.
Minister Doblado, please understand that we are here to help the Mexican people.
We only want your debt with us to be guaranteed.
General, you are speaking for Mr. Saligny and Commodore Dunlop.
I would appreciate it if you sent these words to President Juarez in writing.
Yes, indeed.
We are going to send it to Mexico City immediately.
We should send our troops instead.
I don't speak French, but I understand it perfectly.
And I see all those soldiers who arrived from so far, with you.
-More than we agreed, General. -it's just for protection.
For protection?
Or for exploration?
As you know, our troops are at the port suffering from black vomit.
For your peace of mind, we will send half of them back to Veracruz.
Well, now that we understand each other like the gentlemen that we are,
please allow me to offer you a cigar.
Now we understand each other.
We don't have whiskey, but we can get you a fine tequila.
Mexican beer will do. Thank you.
Return to the port?
We will take some other route.
Lieutenant Fauvet, those are not Saligny's orders.
Sergeant Vache,
we are military men and we have to explore enemy territory.
Those are my orders, are you against them?
Aim!
Fire!
Attention!
Terrible, gentlemen! You don't act like soldiers!
If you don't want to be one, get out of here!
Ignacio,
I have bad news.
Give me that.
President Juarez also sent a statement from General Prim,
who is in charge of the Spanish delegation.
According to Prim, they are here to demand satisfaction for our past affronts
and get guarantees for the future.
What affronts?
They are here to get their money the nasty way.
We are not ready to resist an attack.
Take the troops, cavalry and supplies to Chalchicomula.
Order Oaxaca Division to move forward.
Here.
General Porfirio Diaz, too.
They are our best men.
What are you waiting for, Miguel?
Am I not clear?
I have more bad news.
It's your wife.
Rafaela died yesterday of pneumonia.
I'm really sorry, brother.
If there is something I can do for you...
-Maybe you should go to... -We have no time.
If we don't take action now, we will have more deaths to regret.
Virgen de la Candelaria.
I saw her on my way through Canary Island.
And I find her here, across the Atlantic Ocean.
In Mexico, like in Spain, there are pious people, General.
Actually, we just celebrated her festivity, on February the 2nd.
Although I'm far from my homeland, I feel it so close.
I'm delighted to see how similar our countries are.
And I am delighted that our similarities put us on the path of peace.
I don't see any obstacle to that.
I know war pretty well.
And the pain and the sorrow that it brings.
So, if I can avoid it...
It is a wise and noble thought, General Prim.
Well, they must have finished writing the treaty.
Shall we call it "La Soledad," like this hacienda?
All right, Minister.
One month later...
Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Count of Lorencéz.
I'm landing with eight battleships and 5,000 armed men
at the service of the French Empire.
I don't understand, why bring in more troops and a war commander?
With all due respect, Count.
Believe it or not, General Prim, we came here
because our Mexican friends invited us.
General Prim,
-it is an honor, sir. -General Almonte,
we hadn't met,
but I know who you are.
What is wrong with you, Lieutenant Fauvet? We are welcoming our war chief!
My respects, General.
Saligny, please forgive him.
I have known Lieutenant Fauvet for a long time.
He is tough, sometimes excessive,
but efficient.
I have to give you this urgently, General.
These are the updated geographic charts, from the coast to Orizaba.
Excuse me, gentlemen, but all this is not necessary.
You are right, General Prim.
It would be enough
if someone could tell me where I can find President Juarez
to personally demand the payment of the debt.
I am gathering all Conservative forces and we'll join the French.
That peasant Juarez is gathering his best men, ammunition and gunpowder
in Chalchicomula, in order to resist an attack.
We have to stop them.
Don't worry about that, General Márquez.
We won't let you down.
You better not.
You know what would happen to you.
-Get out. -Yes, General.
Chalchicomula, State of PUEBLA
Troop, stop!
General Alvarez,
we were waiting for you. We come from Perote.
Okay, you will join Oaxaca Division.
-We are 1,200 men. -It will be an honor, General.
We will rest at the barracks,
but the ammunition and gunpowder must be carried to the prefecture.
Yes, General.
Hurry up, it will rain soon.
It's the Oaxaca Division! They are the heroes of '47 and the War of Reform.
They're our best men!
Those fucking Europeans won't even know what hit them!
Look, Juan! There is that pretty girl.
Which one? What was her name?
I think it was Citlali.
What? Make a fierce face and pretend to be a tough guy.
-Stick your chest out! -Like this?
Yeah!
Let's go.
General Almonte's landing taunts the work of the last months.
It is not honorable that France supports this.
Almonte,
Morelos' son,
their independence hero
wants a European empire,
like many other Mexicans.
Those who live there, the exiled ones.
His presence is the apple of discord with the Mexican government.
Gentlemen, Mexico has been a republic for the last 40 years.
They fought to get rid of a monarchy.
Why would they want another one?
We have to march over Mexico.
Such is the will of the Mexican aristocracy and the French Empire!
But it is not the will of Spain and England!
That would violate "La Soledad Treaty"!
And our alliance, the Treaty of London!
Lighten up, guys! Replacements are coming!
They're getting the chow ready.
President Juárez's government has been despotic and tyrannical.
Not only towards its citizens, but towards the French
and the Spaniards who live here, and you know it, Prim!
I only know that we have signed agreements and given our word!
General, you know an agreement between nations can't be broken just like that!
Gentlemen,
I just follow the Emperor's orders.
I am here as a military commander.
Your political issues are none of my business.
The Mexican government is willing to meet our requests,
but they won't allow any menace to their sovereignty.
Have something to eat.
Here.
-Thanks. -Look.
Would you like some beans and tortillas?
-Okay. -Yeah.
-Hey! -Yes?
Where are you from?
-Why do you want to know? -Yes, why?
Well, just because...
I'm from Orizaba.
Right by the volcano.
I see.
We are from Cuetzalán, right?
It's in the mountains.
-Do you know where it is? -Yeah.
-Citlali! -Yes!
There are more beans back there, in the hut. Share them out.
-it's too far, aunt! -Come on, don't be lazy!
Come, there is no place to sit here.
-Hey! -Okay.
I ask you to reconsider your position for the sake of our nations' alliance!
Or we shall break it and have our troops retreat!
Don't you see? This would mean war!
So, we made our decision.
We will march over Mexico.
Aunt!
Watch out, Juan!
Look for more wounded!
Someone blew the gunpowder up.
The Oaxaca Division,
our best men,
they are all dead.
Along with hundreds of women and children.
Dark times are coming for Mexico.
General Zaragoza!
Attention!
Citlali, the General is coming.
General Zaragoza.
At ease.
-How many casualties? -More than 1,500, General.
Soldiers, women and children. And many more are injured.
What about the ammunition?
We lost almost all our weapons.
Also the gunpowder and all our horses.
Having you here is an honor, General.
The General is here.
The General!
Are you trained nurses?
No, General.
We live on the surroundings and we are just helping.
We also lost some of our relatives.
I know you're in mourning.
But you will deliver an important service to our homeland if you go with the troops.
Go where, General?
Puebla.
We'll defend ourselves there.
General.
The Oaxaca Division is finished.
They are all dead.
We are outnumbered.
We won't have enough time to reinforce our troops.
That's why we need to buy some time
and find better conditions to our defense.
We will try to hold them back on the crossing of the Acultzingo Summit.
General Prim has behaved with honor.
But his efforts to avoid a war have not been enough.
We have to take extreme measures
and face a war.
We must believe
that our struggle is fair.
At the moment that the Mexican government,
faithful to the commitments that it has acquired...
A curfew will be imposed.
Mexicans will have to abandon the cities that the French army may occupy.
Watch out!
No Mexican man between the ages of 20 to 60
will be exempt from taking up arms.
Otherwise, they will be punished like traitors.
Citlali?
How are you?
Fine.
So, you are coming to Puebla.
Yes.
I want to thank you
for taking care of me.
You don't have to.
I did it for everyone.
Are you feeling better, by the way?
Yes, much better.
Stop that!
Go away!
Here.
It's for you.
-I can't accept this! -Hold on!
This cross has taken care of me.
Just like you did.
It's the only way that I can thank you.
So take it, please.
In fact, here.
It's very pretty. Thank you very much.
-You're welcome. -You are Juan, aren't you?
Attention, let them pass! it's a General.
Present saber!
General Leonardo Márquez.
I've come to put my army at Napoleon III and the French Empire's disposal.
Here he is. The "Tiger of Tacubaya."
General, it's an honor to have you among us.
It's time to settle things with that usurper Juarez
and his pathetic Liberal army.
Mr. Dubois de Saligny, ambassador
and French politician.
-At your service, Mr. Saligny. -Thank you, General.
Please.
We have heard terrible things about you.
Excuse me?
They say you are a tiger on the battlefield
and that you eat your enemies alive.
A tiger who likes to eat Liberal men.
Exactly.
This is exactly what we need
to strangle Juárez's army.
I have 7,000 men. They're ready to march over them.
7,000? Well, you accomplished your task, General.
We have prepared a little reception so you can sit and discuss with
our war chief, the Count of Lorencéz.
This way, please.
We will pass through the Acultzingo Summit.
It is the fastest way to get to Puebla.
And the most dangerous one, General Lorencéz, if I might add.
That field could be favorable for the enemy.
Yes...
But we are the French army.
My men are on the other side, near Atlixco.
My proposal is to move forward in parallel, to surround them.
General Márquez,
do you have any available cavalry?
Yes, indeed.
Excellent!
Our horses are in bad shape.
We didn't find any water or food on our way.
So we had to leave most of them in order to save them.
They don't have cavalry either.
Most of their horses died in Chalchicomula.
And we have not only French soldiers...
But also African, Algerian, Bedouin.
Let's say they're a little bit savage.
Then it is all settled, gentlemen.
-Long live the Mexican monarchy! -Vive la France!
Lieutenant Fauvet,
escort General Márquez.
Yes, General.
After that,
set up an advanced party
on the other side of our line of attack.
Fine, General.
When will we meet again, General?
Wen,
I'll see you on the battlefield.
-At your command, General. -We are counting on you, General.
I'll see you in Puebla, gentlemen.
Hurry up or I'll see you when we enter Mexico City.
Or the United States.
Acultzingo Summit
April the 28th
Aim!
Fire!
Soldiers!
Today we are going to die for our homeland.
But many more Frenchmen will die, too.
Forward!
Come on!
-Attack them! -To the horsemen!
Attack them!
Get ready!
Artillery, artillery!
Fire!
Let's go!
Don't take any prisoner! Kill them all!
Attack them!
God damn it!
Arteaga.
General Porfirio Diaz.
At you service, General.
The enemy is moving forward, even though they have more casualties than we do.
We estimate 10 of them have died for each one of ours, General.
Still...
Night will fall soon, it will favor our withdrawal.
Withdrawal, sir? From this position, we can resist and attack them.
Porfirio, from the beginning, I knew this position was lost.
We are moving to Puebla, and you will cover our backs. Understood?
Yes, General. I am at your command.
They are not going to pass, until the last man has withdrawn.
You, go to the points where our troops are.
I need you to inform them what happened here.
-Move! -Yes, General!
We will barely have time to prepare our defense.
Fire!
Finally!
Victory.
This is just the prelude of what is going to happen in Puebla.
Retreat!
Protect the retreat!
Cannon number one, fire!
Fire!
Gather around! Gather around!
Should we follow him?
That's not necessary. He will surely die.
Besides, the terrain is sheer, Sergeant.
Will these work?
They worked in '47.
We'll only shoot twice anyway.
Before the third shot, we will be in a hand-to-hand combat.
Yeah.
Hey!
Are you okay?
I am thirsty.
I am starving, and I am cold.
I am tired.
Artemio, I am fed up.
We are just fleeing, aren't we?
What did you expect? Our best men died and there's no ammunition.
That's the point. What are we doing here?
-Don't you see it is impossible? -What is?
What? Defeating the French!
What are you talking about?
-Doctor! -I'm here!
What happened?
I bring news from Acultzingo.
The French defeated us.
-They seized that position. -How many are they?
Around 6,000.
General Zaragoza orders to go faster,
to reach Puebla
as soon as possible.
Calm down.
Your name. What is your name?
There's nothing we can do.
This horse is exhausted.
You two,
bury this man.
I'm done, Artemio.
What do you mean?
I'm quitting.
Tomorrow I'm going back to our hometown, or anywhere.
Are you going to desert?
Don't be an idiot, if they catch you, they'll shoot you!
So what?
If we stay, the French will kill us anyway.
Like this man here.
Tell me, who is the idiot?
Fucking coward!
What's your problem?
What's going on?
I brought you some water.
-it's okay. -No, it's not okay.
Tell her you want to leave.
That you are afraid of the French.
I don't want to die for no reason. That's all.
Die like a man, by defending our homeland.
Our homeland?
Nothing belongs to us! Artemio, why don't you understand?
If I had some land, a family and children...
But I can't have them if I'm dead.
I don't know about you, but I'm leaving.
Fine.
Go! But if they ask me, I'll tell them that you deserted.
If you leave...
What?
Are you going to report me, too?
No, no way.
So?
Take me with you.
What?
No, I can't do that.
My aunt was my only family, I have no one left.
Just like you.
Besides, I've seen too much.
Too much death and pain. I can't bear it anymore.
Okay.
-We can go to my hometown. -Okay.
Right now. Hurry!
Hurry!
Goodbye, Artemio.
Good luck.
How many men do we have, really?
We have to gather all the injured men and check them.
Then we'll decide how many can go back to the battlefield.
Okay, Doctor Ruiz.
Private Artemio.
Where is your friend?
The soldier who helped you bury that man.
-Who? Juan? -I don't know. I haven't seen him.
He's probably with the group that we left behind.
Are you sure?
He has not deserted us, has he?
You know desertion is punishable by death.
No, Captain.
-Juan wouldn't dare. -We have few soldiers.
I can't afford to lose any of them!
Find him and bring him to me! Understood?
-Yes, Captain. -You'd better find him,
or I'll chase him, shoot him and also you for covering him up!
Am I clear?
Yes, Captain.
This is a ghost town.
They burnt everything to the ground. There is no water.
They fled leaving no food, no animal behind, nothing.
Cowards!
It will be easy to defeat them.
They left some houses, but they are closed, Lieutenant.
Our horses are thirsty.
Check the houses and burn everything down.
We are going to sleep in the outskirts.
What has happened?
Juan, I'm very tired.
I'm hungry and thirsty. We would have brought something.
We had to leave without being seen.
We had to flee just like that. I didn't even bring my rifle.
I think leaving the camp was a mistake.
Don't say that.
Don't worry. We'll be fine. I promise.
Okay?
Look there's a barn.
I'm going to look for something to eat.
Meanwhile, go get some water at that well.
I hope it's not closed.
Okay, Juan. Don't take too long!
I won't.
Be careful.
Here!
Are you lost, ma'am?
The poor thing is lost.
Come, don't be afraid.
Good evening, ma'am.
This bitch will learn some French.
-Fauvet, what are you going to do? -What do you think, moron?
I'll have fun with her, and then the others.
It's dishonorable, unbecoming of a French soldier!
This is a war! If you don't want her, just shut the fuck up and watch!
We came to conquer them, and I'll start with this bitch.
Grab her!
No, no! No, please, don't!
It's a Mexican!
Catch him! Catch him!
Go both ways and surround him! Be careful, there could be more!
Vache, stay with this peasant! Use her as a shield, if you need to!
Don't kill him! I want him alive!
Don't move!
Don't you move!
Take his horse!
Come on!
-Who shot them? -I don't know.
-Probably our soldiers. -if they see us, they'll kill us.
We have to hide until this is over.
Wait!
First, we are going to have fun.
This is a game I learned in Africa.
I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.
No, please, no!
The other Mexican soldier could have killed me
and he didn't.
No, please!
We have to take him prisoner and shoot him, there is no need to be savages.
Soldiers!
Vache!
Count to three.
No!
No, no. Please, don't!
It's an order.
No, please, don't! No, please, don't!
No, please!
No! No, please!
One...
Two!
Three!
Hey, Juan.
Do you think they have already left?
I don't know.
What is that?
Wait.
Artemio?
How much longer before we get to Puebla?
Awhile.
We need to rest and continue our trip.
Listen.
Yes?
Are you sure you want to come back?
What do you think Artemio would have done?
He was a brave man.
Not a coward, like me.
I should have saved him.
We didn't know it was him.
Besides, you couldn't have done anything, they would have killed us both.
So don't say that, you are not a coward.
You saved me.
If you don't want to go back,
I understand.
But I have to.
I want to be with you.
I'm going
up there
to...
To keep an eye on the road, just in case.
Citlali?
What are you doing there?
I thought you might be cold,
and if you want, we could cuddle and cover up with this blanket
to keep warm until dawn.
Okay.
Hey! Look! Look!
-What's going on? -Shut up!
Those men don't look French.
They aren't ours either.
CITY OF PUEBLA
FORT GUADALUPE
Captain.
Private Juan Osorno, at your service.
I see.
At ease.
I sent your friend to look for you. I thought you were deserting.
No, sir.
I was in bad shape because of my injuries and I was delayed.
Unfortunately, on the road, we had a confrontation with the French.
My friend Artemio died and we managed to escape.
What? We lost a man because of your weakness!
Sir, please. There's no time to waste.
We saw a group of Conservative soldiers on the road to Atlixco.
They're coming this way and there's many of them!
-How many? -Over 5,000, for sure.
Apparently, they're Leonardo Márquez's troops.
We did everything we could to avoid it.
So he finally managed to gather his Conservative army.
Or the remains of it, after we defeated them.
Send me to fight against them, General. I can stop them and even defeat them!
I'm certain about that, General Diaz, but I need you here.
We don't have enough time or men to move you there.
Generals Carvajal and O'Horan are at the place.
I'll send the order for them to move with the 3, 000 men that they have.
They'll confront them in Atlixco.
General.
We barely have over 2,000 men here.
The French army has 5,000 men.
If they don't stop them, General Mejia, they'll surround us by the rear.
-We wouldn't be able to defend ourselves. -Yes, but Carvajal,
and O'Horan,
-they will fight with few men... -it's the only way, General Negrete.
I have asked Queretaro and the surroundings for support.
I only hope backup will arrive on time for May 6th.
Soldier, step forward.
Your report has been very useful.
-What is your name? -Juan Osorno, General.
At your service.
Well, you will fight next to others named Juan.
General Juan Nepomuceno and Commander Tomas Segura.
They command the men from Zacapoaxtla, Tetela and Xochiapulco.
They will be the first to face the enemy.
I told them your desire to be on the front.
On the first line, with all of them.
We may die, but they won't pass.
May the 3rd
General Arteaga, you are a brave man.
And also a madman.
He wanted to defeat the French all by himself.
And he was about to succeed.
I'm sorry, General, but on the battlefield, you can lose your grip.
Fortunately, you didn't lose your leg.
Thanks to you.
Mrs. Soledad is a distinguished lady from Puebla.
She's helping with the hurt soldiers and her work is exceptional.
I've always been interested in medicine, General.
I have a sister who is a nun and also a nurse.
Religious life was not for me, so I married a doctor.
We're glad to have you, Mrs. Soledad.
It's my privilege, General.
We are here to help you.
I'd have wanted to be with you on the battlefield.
You will be. Thanks to you, the French will attack us with 500 less men.
Ignacio, we have a report.
French troops are moving fast, they will be here in one day.
Sooner than expected.
And our backup is not here yet.
The battle won't be on the 6th,
but on May the 5th.
Come on!
More!
Come on, guys!
Hurry up, guys!
What the fuck are you doing there? What did I tell you?
There they are.
Just like we feared.
Do you think they are going to attack us now?
It's about to get dark, they won't attack, they're tired.
Luckily for us, we wouldn't be able to stop them.
-Are the towers ready? -Almost, sir. I'll tell them to hurry.
-Proceed as soon as they're done. -Yes, sir.
Forts Loreto and Guadalupe are the only obstacles
between us and Mexico City.
Tomorrow they will be in ruins.
And their soldiers will be flesh for vultures.
And the beautiful women of Puebla will welcome us under a rain of flowers.
Cheers!
What's going on?
Keep working! Don't be afraid!
Come on!
We're going to kick French ass! Come on!
They made a mistake, maybe.
On the contrary.
Why? I don't understand.
Gentlemen, open your eyes.
Those towers were our only visual reference to locate the enemy.
And they are gone.
Keep on working.
We have a lot to do.
Atlixco, State of PUEBLA
May the 4th
it's an ambush!
Run!
The best way to celebrate is to expand the French Empire.
To our overwhelming victory tomorrow.
-Cheers! -Cheers!
If you'd be so kind, my dear Count,
tell us about the letter that you have written
to our Emperor Napoleon III.
Could you read it, if you keep a copy?
It won't be necessary, because I know it by heart.
"We have over those Mexicans
"such superiority of race,
"organization, discipline, morality
"and nobility
"that I beg you to inform the Emperor
"that from this day on, at the head of his 6,000 men,
"l am the lord and master of Mexico."
-Vive la France! -Vive la France!
Juan, do you want some coffee?
Thank you.
Take a seat.
Okay.
-it's delicious. -It is, isn't it?
Why don't you take a rest?
What for?
I'd rather stay here, helping the troop.
The troop?
This is not a troop, can't you see?
Many of them have no training or experience in combat.
Some of them don't even have a uniform
or shoes.
What's wrong with you?
I thought you were willing to fight.
I am.
We're going to fight,
but to win...
Will you promise me something?
What?
Please come back tomorrow.
I wouldn't want you to get hurt.
Wen,
I'll do my best,
-but I can't promise you that. -Please, promise.
And I'll kiss you.
-Right now? -No way!
God forbids! No!
Tomorrow, when you are back.
So will you just give me one kiss?
Come on! Cool down!
I mean it.
Wen,
I will come back.
I promise.
Tomorrow, at the battlefield,
if you are afraid, think about Artemio.
Remember what those bastards did to him, so you can find courage.
Believe me,
I think about that all the time.
Think about me, if you can.
I will be here, praying for the Virgin Mary to take care of you.
They say
That I have
The path of the winds in my eyes
That my heaven
ls getting bigger
While I remove the grains of silence
I smell the scent of the night
And your name reverberates in my ear
Sweetening the flavor of this land
And taking death to oblivion
Silent flower of my lips
Palpitating, so dark
Let my moon shine
And light my sadness up
Flower burning on the night
Infinite and radiant light
Paint me a sky with no clouds
Relieve my torment
"Army drink"?
-What is that? -Tequila with gunpowder.
To gather your courage and to get warm.
Just that.
-Cheers, then. -Cheers.
It's good.
Silent flower of my lips
Palpitating, so dark
Let my moon shine
And light my sadness up
Flower burning on the night
Infinite and radiant light
Paint me a sky with no clouds
Relieve my torment
Silent flower of my lips
Let my moon shine
And light my sadness up
Flower burning on the night
Infinite and radiant light
Paint me a sky with no clouds
And a country with no sorrow
Soldiers are coming! There are many of them!
Get ready!
-To your positions, quickly! -Get ready!
How is it going? Where's the battle?
-Who are you? -Backup from Queretaro and Guanajuato.
We are 200 and we're willing to kill the French men!
They are our men!
Welcome!
May the 5th
Brother.
General, I didn't know you were a religious man.
I have faith in our soldiers and in our cause.
But a little help from the General up above
would do no harm on the battlefield.
Attention!
Present saber!
-General. -Good morning.
General.
We have bad news.
-Well? -General Márquez's troops.
What happened to him?
They were taken by surprise and dispersed.
They won't be able to attack the enemy's rear.
That's why we ask you to reconsider this offensive.
Besides, our soldiers are tired. They haven't rested in three days.
-To reconsider it, Saligny? -Yes.
We are right in front of them, ready to defeat them!
It is clear that General Zaragoza and his officers know this field very well.
Our officers also know the field.
If we attack the forts directly, we will be at a disadvantage.
If the forts fall today,
our victory will be fast and blunt, like the Emperor ordered.
General!
With all due respect, I ask you to listen to our generals.
-If we attack from the south... -Your generals, Almonte.
What happened with your best man, the "Tiger of Tacubaya"?
We'll follow the plan. We'll make a full attack, there's no turning back.
Good luck.
They may be the first citizens of the world, but you
are the first children of this country and they want to take your homeland away!
I am sick of those Mexicans who, because of fear,
and because they stupidly feel inferior,
think that victory is impossible.
Today we have to change that goddamned defeatism
that chases and humiliates us as a nation.
This day,
you will face an army that regards itself as unbeatable.
They do because they have never faced brave Mexicans,
warlike Mexicans!
Like our ancestors.
Like all the people gathered here today.
This country has shed a lot of blood in wars,
since its independence. The rich against the poor,
liberals against conservatives,
peasants, mixed race, foreigners.
Today,
you
have the opportunity of bringing Mexico together!
Don't worry about fighting a nation of warriors!
Because we are warriors, too!
And we are brave!
But above all, we are free men.
And free men
know no fear,
and recognize no rival!
Today, May the 5th,
the French
will respect the Mexican eagle
and they will look up to this flag
from a puddle of their own blood!
Long live Mexico!
Long live free Mexico!
Long live Mexico!
Long live free Mexico!
The field is more irregular than I thought.
Send a few men on horses, we're going to try to catch them by the rear.
Yes, General!
We're going to concentrate on Guadalupe. Fort Loreto is still far.
Lieutenant Fauvet,
attack them with your men from the north side.
Then,
-do what we agreed. -Yes, General.
Mr. Benoît.
Yes, General!
Command the artillery to move and to protect our troops.
Yes, General.
-Vache, lead the troops. -Yes, sir.
There they are.
General Mejia, you are in charge of the defense of the fort.
I will be here. In our headquarters.
Mejia,
it's a battle to the death.
To the death, General Zaragoza.
The French are coming, motherfuckers!
Come on!
Let's go!
Here.
That's it!
Cover it!
This side!
-Move! Move! -Move!
Get down! Get down!
Protect the Count of Lorencéz.
Vache, take your position!
Attention! Halt!
To the left, now!
Move forward! March!
Their forces are divided in two wings.
They're surrounding us.
Soldiers, take your positions!
Cover that side!
Move!
Prepare the attack!
Cannons in position!
They haven't seen us.
For God's sake, why haven't they started to fire?
Captain, the field is bent!
Our men are moving forwards, we have to protect them!
Get ready to open fire! Cannon number one,
fire!
Resist!
Cannon number two, fire!
Cannon number three, fire!
Come on, move! Quickly!
Can you walk?
Move, quickly!
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Hold your positions!
Adjust the angle to reopen fire!
Fire!
Cannon number two, fire!
Cannon number three, fire!
Cannon number four, fire!
We can't even hit them.
Have artillery move forward and infantry attack them with all their strength!
Move!
They will see what the French army is made of.
Ready to shoot.
Ready!
Fire!
Attack them! March!
Rifles on the front!
It looks like they're walking past us.
Halt!
To the left! Left!
Move forward! Go!
Cannon number one, fire!
Keep the formation!
Fire!
Cannon number three, fire!
Cannon number four, fire!
Recharge!
Get ready!
Ready!
Aim!
-Fire! -Fire!
Fire!
Resist!
Come on!
Load!
Ready!
Aim!
Fire!
Prepare for combat!
Charge!
Hold your position!
Fire!
Cannon number two, fire!
Fire!
Artillery!
More precision in your shots!
You, hurry up!
Prepare the cannon!
Hurry up, soldiers!
Good.
As soon as they pass the hill, they can open fire over the fort.
Artillery!
Move forward! Move forward!
Take the first line!
Don't take any prisoners! This way!
Surround them! Surround them! Come on!
Come on!
They're surrounding us!
Cover the right wing!
What are you waiting for, soldier? Come on!
Fire!
Take your positions!
Hold on...
Fire!
Beware! Move backwards!
Attack them!
Kill them all!
Fire!
Move backwards!
Cannon number one, fire!
Move backwards! Vache, reorganize your group!
-Soldiers, come with me! -Fall back.
Fire!
Fall back! Take the injured and fall back!
Fall back, fall back, fall back!
Soldiers, this way! This way!
Cannon number three, fire!
Cannon number four, fire!
Fall back!
Attack them!
Get me some wine.
-Doctor Ruiz? -Yes?
We are medical students. We came to help.
Welcome. Get on. And put that away, you're not going to need it.
Tell Mrs. Soledad to hurry up.
As soon as we get the order, we'll go to the battlefield.
Tie those horses, quickly!
Come on, hurry up!
Come on! Hold your positions!
Fire!
Surround them! Come on!
We give up! Enough, we give up!
-Kill them! -No, no!
Prepare your positions! Prepare your positions!
Vache!
Try to reach the front from the north side.
We'll attack from the center and get the artillery focused in that point!
Get ready to attack!
We are going to vanquish them for the honor of France!
Fire!
Cannon number three, fire!
-Take your positions! -Ready.
Aim!
-Fire! -Fire!
Fire!
-Fire! -Fire!
Attack them!
Cannon number two, fire!
Cannon number three, fire!
Your men are recovering, General Lorencéz.
We are going to attack them simultaneously, as we have planned.
I'm sure with this second attack, we'll reach Fort Guadalupe.
And we'll take it.
Let's go!
Fire!
If they get closer, we won't be able to use the artillery, or we'll hurt our troops.
-Prepare infantry. -Yes, sir. Come on!
Fire!
Vache, take your men to the north side!
Soldiers! Come with me!
Come on!
Almonte! They're Almonte's men!
-Almonte! -Almonte!
Almonte!
They are not our men!
It's their cavalry!
Fire!
The cavalry!
Fire!
Fall back! Fall back!
Vache, order them to fall back!
-Come on, fall back! -Fall back!
-Cover the right wing! -Right wing, come on!
Prepare yourselves to defend our position!
Fire!
Cavalry! Fall back!
Infantry, move forward! Ready!
Fire!
Attack them!
That is their cavalry!
General.
We must consider retreat.
General?
General!
No!
The French army will never be defeated by a bunch of peasants!
This is not over yet.
Guards, follow me!
We have stopped the second attack, but they will certainly come back!
Rain is falling, that will make it hard to use the artillery. Hurry!
-Pick up our casualties. -Yes, sir.
Inform the President about the situation.
General, I think we should attack them first.
-We could take them by surprise. -I understand, General Diaz.
But our strategy will still be to defend ourselves.
We don't have enough ammunition or men to attack them.
-General... -Porfirio, be patient!
You will be in combat very soon. Hold your position.
Wait for my orders.
They're badly injured!
Help the injured!
Also help the French.
-Hurry up. -Doctor, here.
-That man. -Wait, they'll come for you.
Soldier!
My God! Doctor, this man is bleeding too much!
Keep pressure on the wound. Can you walk?
Can you walk? Yes? Okay, go to the hospital!
Take him to the fort with the others!
Hurry!
Take your positions! Fire!
Cannon number one, fire!
Cannon number two, fire!
General!
General, our men are exhausted.
The field is lost and the Mexicans are fighting to the death!
I don't care, Sergeant!
Focus our attack on Fort Guadalupe with all the strength we have!
I want you to take it now! Understand?
Yes, General.
Fauvet!
General.
Take some men and be our scouting patrol.
We will hit them on the head.
-Yes, General! -Fauvet!
Don't disappoint me!
Vache, come with me!
Excuse me, General. No one told us we were going to invade,
but to release.
Being prisoners doesn't allow you to take our medals.
What medals?
Apparently, some of our men took their medals.
Order them to give them back.
To treat them with respect, I'm not going to tolerate...
-Take them! -Cover the General!
The French are coming!
-Take your positions! -Defend our positions!
Ignacio, get in! Get in!
Cover them!
To the infirmary!
Take the injured inside! Move!
Hurry up! Take the injured inside!
Keep shooting!
And the doctor? Where is the doctor?
Come on!
Hold on, Lieutenant!
General.
-We have men. -I'll go with some men to the battlefield.
-But General... -Do your duty and I'll do mine!
I beg you, stay here and command the battle.
Our country needs you.
I want General Diaz to continue with our plan.
Move!
Yes, General.
Captain, what's keeping you from destroying those cannons?
-I'll do it immediately, sir! -And the rest of you...
Attack them!
Fire!
Attack them!
Fire!
-Save his leg! -Change the water.
This man is dying!
I hear the cannons again!
The French are attacking us again. Help me!
Put some pressure on the wound.
-I don't know... -Pressure, hard! Talk to him!
Look at him. Put more pressure on the wound!
Doctor Ruiz has gone, so I will have to be in charge. I'll send you a doctor.
-What's your name? -Juan...
Manuel.
No, no. Easy, easy.
-Don't leave me alone. -You are not going to die.
You...
Nurse!
Somebody help me out here!
Attack them!
Cover your position!
Come on!
Don't let them pass!
Cover that door!
There!
Cover it!
Don't let them pass!
Come on! Don't let them pass!
Cover yourselves!
The French are here!
They are taking the quarters by assault! Come on! Attack them!
Attack them!
Come on!
Kill them all!
-Don't let them pass! -Don't leave a soul!
Attack them!
Kill them all! Don't leave a soul!
Finally.
They are ours.
Attack them with all your strength!
Soldiers!
We are going to show those bastards
what we Mexicans are made of!
Fire!
Cannon number three, fire!
-Infantry, let's go! -Yes, sir!
Sharpshooters!
Stop them!
Aim!
Fire!
Kill him in the name of France!
You are not France!
It's over!
Fire!
Take up arms!
Fire!
Get ready to attack!
Kill them!
No!
Fuck!
Fucking hell!
Hold your position!
Hold on! Hold on!
Hold your position!
Fire!
What are you doing, asshole?
What are you doing? Protect your general!
Fire!
Retreat!
We won! We won!
-Are they saying that we won? -So it seems.
It's a miracle!
We defeated them! We defeated them!
Ignacio, we have defeated the French.
Are you sure?
General Porfirio Diaz is chasing them out.
Then,
today our National Army has covered itself in glory.
Juan! Juan!
Juan! Juan! Juan!
Thank God you are alive!
-Have we won? -Yes, we won.
Get up.
Wait! Wait!
I'll go look for someone to help you!
Wait!
No. No.
Citlali, don't. Please, don't go.
Don't leave me alone.
Juan, you're losing a lot of blood. Please, let me get some help!
Hold me.
Don't be sad.
We won.
-Yes, we won. -We won.
Hold me.
I'm cold.
I'm so cold.
Hold me.
Five months later, General Ignacio Zaragoza
died unexpectedly of typhoid fever in the city of Puebla.
He was 33 years old.
His mortal remains are in the same
grave alongside those of his wife Rafaela.
Along with other generals, Porfirio Diaz
continued fighting against the French,
and his military victories were the key to expel them
from Mexico in 1867.
The Count of Lorencéz was dismissed by Napoleon III
after his humiliating defeat in the battle of Puebla.
Mexico's victory was highly celebrated in the United States,
because it thwarted Napoleon III's projects
to support the Confederate Secessionist Army of the South.
President Abraham Lincoln congratulated
and thanked Benito Juarez
by offering his support to expel the French invaders.
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