Passage to Marseille

A crusading newspaper publisher and gunner who stands against the Munich Pact. Framed for murder to silence him, he becomes the determined leader of the escapees and their mission. His courage and insistence on France’s dignity drive the group from captivity toward active resistance.

One of the five escaped convicts from Devil's Island who is recruited to fight for France. He embodies the grit and desperation of the escapees, ultimately paying with his life in the bomber encounter.

Among the escapees, Garou contributes to the plan and shows the protective loyalty that binds the group. His role underscores the collective strength forged in confinement.

One of the convicts who becomes part of the Free French mission, illustrating how ordinary men can endure extraordinary circumstances and choose defiance.

A member of the escapees whose bomber mission is interwoven with the fate of Matrac and the group. His fate is tied to the outcomes of their daring plan.

The captain of Ville de Nancy who, after learning of the surrender, secretly chooses to divert his valuable cargo to Britain. His act catalyzes the escape and survival of the crew.

A British observer who narrates Matrac's story to Manning, situating the tale within the larger wartime effort. He embodies the connection between frontline action and its retelling.

A pro-Vichy passenger who attempts to leverage the chaos aboard Ville de Nancy by broadcasting coordinates, opposing the escapees’ aims.

Matrac's wife, a steady thread of family and longing that motivates his actions. Her role highlights the personal stakes behind the political struggle.

The patriotic ex-convict who inspires and orchestrates the escape plan, embodying the older generation's faith in France's future.

A journalist at the British RAF base who becomes the conduit through which Matrac’s story reaches a wider audience, linking the squadron’s work to the public record.

The son Matrac never meets in life, his existence fuels the emotional arc as the father writes a final letter to him.