"Le Bras de fer" Joins the Unlock Catalogue

Since 2007, Pascal Roussel has been part of the directing team at the Établissement de communication et de production audiovisuelle de la Défense (ECPAD), where he creates films based on archives, collective and personal narratives, illustrating major 20th-century conflicts. He explores various formats and storytelling techniques, with a particular interest in virtual reality and mobile applications. Meanwhile, Jean Dytar is a graphic novel author and a graduate of the Saint-Étienne Faculty of Fine Arts. He won the Prix Cases d’Histoire for Florida in 2018 and the Prix BD Fondation Pierre Lafue/Histoire de lire for #J’Accuse…! in 2022. 

A digital graphic novel designed for smartphones, Le Bras de fer follows the investigation of Edward Murton, an American war reporter, from London to Algiers, via Sicily and Italy. The story revisits political and military events through the complex relationships between De Gaulle, Churchill, and Roosevelt. In their hands lies the fate of liberated France, while the main character relentlessly tries to get closer to the frontlines, despite his superiors' objections. 

The graphic novel was written and directed by Pascal Roussel and illustrated by Jean Dytar. Blending drawn storytelling with archival film and photography, Le Bras de fer captures the complex period experienced by General de Gaulle, from Operation Torch to D-Day. Designed for vertical smartphone reading, the format enhances Jean Dytar’s noir-inspired illustrations, reminiscent of classic Hollywood films. Dialogue appears in speech bubbles, staying true to the comic book tradition, while the sound design brings historical figures to life through their voices. 

All photographs, film footage, and audio recordings used in Le Bras de fer come from the archives of ECPAD. The graphic novel also benefited from the historical expertise of Olivier Wieviorka, author of Histoire totale de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Published and developed by ECPAD for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation, Le Bras de fer was awarded the “Mission Libération” label by the French government. It is now part of the Unlock catalogue of the Institut français, dedicated to distributing creative works for mobile platforms.