An idealist, a romantic, humanist and visionary, swiss-born Henry Dunant led an insane battle to convince nation states to allow a relief society to take care of soldiers who fell on the battlefield, regardless of their nationality. The fierce will of this man who dared the impossible, thereby earning the first Nobel Peace Prize, was the spark that led to the founding of the Red Cross Society.

Filmography
After studying theatre in Geneva and Paris, Thomas Jouannet founded a theatre company “in the spirit of Molière”. Between 1990 and 1998, he performed in a dozen classical and contemporary plays (including As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, Le boudoir, A View from the Bridge, Le bonheur à Romorantin, Le palier). In 1997, Arnaud Sélignac provided him with his first real TV role in Week-end. He went on to play in some thirty made-for-TV films, including most recently Aurélien, L’adieu, L’affaire Dominici, Le silence de la mer (The silence of the sea), and Beau masque. He also played in seven films between 2000 and 2005 (including Yamakasi, Mariage mixte, Ma vie en l’air, Fragments). After eight years away from the stage, he is currently performing a two-character comedy directed by Chantal Lauby, Regarde-moi. “I really wanted to climb back up on stage, to risk it in front of an audience again.” At the same time, he is preparing to play in Eric de Montailler’s first film, alongside Nicole Garcia, Jacques Dutronc, André Dussolier, and Mélanie Doutey..
» Interview of Thomas Jouanet

Cécile, a hospital nurse, is an incredibly modern young woman. She dares to defy the moral and social prejudices of the time to link her fate to that of the man she loves and who represents all the values she admires. In doing so, she is willing to be disowned by her father and ruin her reputation in a daring, revolutionary move for the time. Henry sees in her a true companion, someone who will support him and believe in him more than he does himself.

Filmography
What could be more miraculous, more thrilling for an actress than to launch her career with the Award for Best Actress at Cannes in a movie that won the Palme d'Or: the Dardenne brothers' Rosetta (1999). Emilie, a Belgian actress, has since followed on with: Le pacte des loups ( Brotherhood of the Wolf) (Christophe Gans - 2000), Oui, mais... ( Yes, But... ) (Yves Alonso - 2001), La femme de ménage ( A Housekeeper ) (Claude Berri - 2001), Mariées mais pas trop ( The Very Merry Widows ) (Catherine Corsini - 2002), The bridge of San Luis Rey (Mary Mc Guckian, with Robert de Niro - 2003), L'équipier ( The Light ) (Philippe Lioret - 2003), Les États-Unis d'Albert ( The United States of Albert ) (Marc-André Forcier - 2003), L'Américain ( The American ) (Patrick Timsit - 2003), Avant qu'il ne soit trop tard ( Couples ) (Laurent Dussaux - 2004), De profundis (Antoine Santana - 2004), Écoute le temps (Alante Alfandari - 2005). In 2002, she played in Yves Boisset's Jean Moulin , a TV broadcast for France 2.

Léonie, a young bourgeois woman engaged to Daniel Dunant, is both amused and flattered by Henry. Amused by the enthusiasm and rebellious side of the young man who distracts her from the tedious ceremonies of her social circle and flattered because she knows she can be of use to him, and because he awakens in her the desire to act and the feeling of being alive - something she rarely feels in her conventional life. Maybe also even a little excitement at braving the rules?

The Dunant brothers do not have much in common. Daniel is truly his father’s son, a model for the Geneva of that time, a strict, Protestant, conservative city, concerned with keeping up appearances. He is uncomfortable around his brother who is so different, maybe jealous of the more “romantic” image Henry enjoys in their mother’s eyes? It will take a dramatically violent physical confrontation for Daniel and Henry to finally find their way to sincere brotherly affection.

Hubert is the grandfather, a physician and humanist who has instilled his ethical values in Henry, a role model of sorts, his true moral and spiritual father.

Henry’s journalist friend publishes his letters to Cécile in Le Journal de Genève. Who cares about scandal and reprobation! The world must hear about the atrocities of war. Ignoring the threatening letters he receives and forgetting the risks he runs, Samuel publishes A memory of Solferino. The newspaper’s offices are ransacked, Samuel is mugged and wounded, but he bravely follows his convictions through to the end.

Cécile’s father is a man from a humble background who dreams of climbing the social ladder into the bourgeois circle he so envies. Possessive, anxious and jealous, he does not understand his daughter’s aspirations and sees in Dunant only an inconsistent, irresponsible young man.

Louis is a friend and physician. He incarnates the humanist and the man of good will whom Henry comes across again on the battlefield where they fight together to help the wounded and accompany the dying. Very admiring of his friend’s wild initiatives, he himself remains more moderate. A member of the Philanthropic Society, he will nevertheless support Henry’s project and take part in the joy at his friend’s victory.

Henry’s father

Henry's mother

Henry’s sister

A Geneva lawyer and president of the Philanthropic Society that supports Henry’s relief society project

A senior officer in the Swiss army and member of the Philanthropic Society

With the help of Léonie, Henry will ultimately meet with the French emperor to win his support for his project.

A business banker who invested in Algeria, friend of the Dunants and Henry's boss