The Battle Of Algiers
1965
Gillo Pontecorvo's presents a harrowing, documentary-style depiction of the Algerian's people's struggle to liberate themselves from France between 1954 and 1962. The film creates a stunning illusion of realism by combining actual newsreel footage with staged sequences featuring amateur and professional actors playing .. Read more
| Starring | Brahim Haggiag, Jean Martin, Saadi Yacef |
|---|---|
| Director | Gillo Pontecorvo |
| Run time | 116 mins |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Although directed by Italian Gillo Pontecorvo, this stark and compelling drama about the rise of the Front de Libération Nationale was the first indigenous feature shot in Algeria. Beside the striking simplicity of the visuals, the film's great strength is its even-handedness: French and Algerian rhetoric is given an equal airing, their actions are neither condemned nor condoned and the combatants on each side are depicted as committed individuals caught in the great tide of history. Although it won the Golden Lion at Venice, the picture was banned in France and lengthy torture scenes were cut in Britain.
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Politically oriented reconstruction of a bitter period of French colonial history, made better propaganda by its wealth of effective detail.
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Most helpful member's review
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18 out of 20 people found this review helpful
Rock the Casbah!!!
Talk about ahead of its time!!! This films was one of the first portray arabs as not shifty, lowlifes but as heroes.
I loved the grainy photography, the editing and the Morricone soundtrack is sparse and rhymic.
Anyone who loves non-Hollywood classic will be fascinated in this film. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Gripping and horribly real.
The shaky hand-held camera shots, the grainy, contrasty black and white film complete with white specks, the grimly matter-of-fact way the French Paras get on with their job and the dogged determination of the Algerian rebels all make for a gripping and horribly real story of urban guerilla warfare: but what really makes this film so convincing and unsettling is its even-handed and judgement-free treatment of the protagonists. The soldiers have compassion for the prisoners they torture and the freedom-fighters are ordinary people whose convictions persuade them to blow up innocent civilians on the other side of town. A politically tense and complicated situation is made worse by the actions of both sides who believe that their brutal actions are justified and necessary.
It could be anywhere at any time in history. No attempt is made to explore the characters or engage our sympathies. They all have redeeming and attractive qualities: these are people like you and me fighing for what they believe is right. Terrifying... -
News and features
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Battle For Haditha
- 28 Jan 2008
When politicians talk about the battle for hearts and minds in a conflict situation, they are usually talking about winning over the support of the local citizens caught in the war zone, though it could also apply to their own constituents, whose tacit approval allows the fighting to continue. In the Vietnam War, the phrase was a favourite of Lyndon Johnson, who believed that by supplying the Vietnamese with electricity and hope for a better future, the US could undermine support for the... Read more
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