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The Battle Of Algiers (1965)

Average rating

(71%)

Starring:	Brahim Haggiag \| Jean Martin \| Saadi Yacef
Director:	Gillo Pontecorvo
Studio:	ARGENT FILMS LTD
Run time:	116 mins
Genres:	Action/Adventure \| Drama
Languages:	Algerian, English
Subtitles:	English
Released:	August 31, 2009
Also available on:

The Battle Of Algiers authentically recreates the life-and-death struggle that took place in Algiers from 1954 to 1957, when the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) began a guerrilla war against the French, using terrorism. The French sent paratroopers, which led to a regrettable catalogue of atrocities being committed by both sides. Unique, Award-winning, enthralling entertainment, The Battle Of Algiers is even more relevant in today's global political climate than ever before.

Rating of 5 stars out of 5

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.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Politically oriented reconstruction of a bitter period of French colonial history, made better propaganda by its wealth of effective detail.

Highest rated reviews

23 out of 43 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 1 stars
Hollywood! Watch and Learn.

christhecat from Herts, 29th February, 2004

This beautifully shot; documentary style drama is a truly great piece of cinema. The Battle of Algiers holds nothing back in delivering a ferociously visceral account of Algeria’s struggle for independence. The decisions to shot and edit with a documentary style make the events on the screen feel like they are happening today and we the audience feel like we are not only in the front row of a cinema but on the front line in the Kasbah. Stirring performances from non-professional actors pack an emotional wallop and the audience’s allegiance to the LFN (The Algerian’s) is closely conflicted by the surprisingly noble French Para’s, personified by Lieutenant Mathieu. Overall, a tenderly handled, truly gorgeous view of the inevitable conflicts that arise through colonialism. And it has to be said, as clichéd as it is; they just don’t make them like they used to.

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8 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5 stars
Quite Astonishing

FrankIV from , 3rd May, 2005

Although set in a particular place and time, this film applies to every situation in which political conviction, religious belief, patriotism, a sense of duty and feelings of grievance lead people into taking positions which seem to justify horrific acts which escalate.

The events are observed with apparent detachment, lack of bias and an unflinching camera, recorded and shown as they unfold with a terrible logic. Both sides of the dispute are given voices which express their opinions and explain their actions, but the film does not fall into the trap of personalising them as characters. The photography and presentation look completely authentic, and it is often difficult to know whether one is watching staged events or newsreel.

This is very powerful, horribly topical and should be seen by all who express opinions about colonialism, revolution and war. It's relevance is timeless.

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Most recent reviews

1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3 stars
A Nation struggles for Freedom!

Charles Brickley from Andover, Hampshire England, 17th November, 2009

It took an Italian Director (Gillo Pontecorvo) to make this brave film about the French Army fighting Algerians in the final years before independence was granted to their former colony in North Africa. 'La battaglia di Algeri' was apparently banned for a while in France as the events depicted had taken place less than ten years before the film was made. There are some excellent reviews of this special movie which was made in a semi documentary style, made more authentic by being filmed in black and white. The scenes are very realistic and there is no real attempt to take sides, merely show how futile the mutual aggression was. It's edited in a fast moving and dramatic fashion and the score by Ennio Morrecone is haunting and appropriate. Jean Martin is dramatic as the ruthless Colonel Mathieu who realises that no matter what success his anti-terrorism tactics have, they will eventually fail to subdue the native protests for freedom from France. This is a must watch for anyone interested in this post World War II struggle for independence in the Algerian civil war, only surpassed by Anthony Quinn’s performance in ‘Lost Command’, also made in 1966. Definitely worth the cost of a DVD hire and two hours of your time.

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