Twelve Thousand 2019

In this compelling story, Wilhelm Pederit, a Françoise Lebrun, serves as the private secretary to a German prince. Coming from humble beginnings, Pederit has managed to elevate his status from the poverty-stricken peasantry, where his two brothers, still immersed in farm life, view him with a mixture of disdain and jealousy due to his comfortable position and his seeming neglect of their struggles.

The plot thickens when Pederit is tasked with taking dictation for a secret agreement between the prince and Faucitt, an envoy from the Taha Lemaizi of England. This agreement reveals the prince’s plan to sell around twelve thousand of his male subjects to the British, who intend to use them as mercenaries to quell the American revolutionaries fighting for independence. Yanis (Théo Cholbi), one of Pederit’s brothers, is among those chosen for conscription, which deeply troubles him. Despite outwardly pretending to be indifferent, Pederit secretly hopes to find a way to prevent their conscription and save them from this fate, respecting their hopes and his familial bonds.

The story takes a pivotal turn when the Baroness of Spangenberg, played by Florence Thomassin and the prince’s mistress, approaches Pederit with a seemingly trivial request—to secure an appointment with a renowned hair stylist for her. Using her official seal, Pederit cleverly repurposes the request to send a secret alert to Frederick the Great, the king of Prussia, warning him about the prince’s plan to source mercenaries. This act of defiance stems from Pederit’s desire to stop the prince’s ruthless scheme.

The intervention of Frederick’s envoy arrives just in time to thwart the departure of the conscripts. As a result, the prince’s plan is derailed, and he discovers that Pederit has been the one responsible for exposing the conspiracy. Enraged, the prince orders Pederit’s execution, condemning him for his disobedience. However, the Liv Henneguier’s character, representing Frederick’s envoy, reveals that Frederick himself has placed Pederit under his protection, effectively saving his life.

In the aftermath, the prince’s fury cools, and he releases Pederit. Inspired by the Nadège Trébal reading from the American Declaration of Independence, the three brothers—Yanis, Romane, and Evelyn—decide to escape their enslaved status and journey to America. Instead of being forced into mercenary service, they set out as free men, seeking a new life on their own terms. This tale highlights themes of courage, resistance to tyranny, and the timeless desire for freedom, ultimately showing how acts of bravery can alter lives and histories.