The Battle of Algiers (1966)
Tracing the struggle of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale to gain freedom from French colonial rule as seen through the eyes of Ali from his start as a petty thief to his rise to prominence in the organisation and capture by the French in 1957. The film traces the rebels' struggle and the increasingly extreme measures taken by the French government to quell the revolt.
- Gillo Pontecorvo
- Fernando Morandi
- Moussa Haddad
- Sarah Maldoror
- Gillo Pontecorvo
- Franco Solinas
Rating: 7.9/10 by 760 users
Alternative Title:
La bataille d'Alger - FR
I mahi tou Algeriou - GR
La batalla de Argel - ES
A Batalha de Argel - BR
阿尔及利亚的战争 - CN
The Battle of Algiers - US
Cezayir Savaşı - TR
알제리 전투 - KR
A Batalha de Argel - PT
Alžirska bitka - SI
Aruje no Tatakai - JP
Az algíri csata - HU
Bitka za Alžir - RS
Bitva o Alžír - CZ
Bitwa o Algier - PL
Cezayir Savasi - TR
De slag om Algiers - BE
De slag om Algiers - NL
La batalla de Argelia - AR
La batalla de Argelia - MX
La batalla de Argelia - UY
La battaglia di Algeri - IT
Maarakat madinat al Jazaer - DZ
Ma'rakat aljazaer - EG
Nabard-e aljazeere - IR
Slaget om Alger - SE
Slaget om Alger - DK
Schlacht um Algier - DE
Taistelu Algeriasta - FI
The Battle of Algiers - GB
Η μάχη του Αλγερίου - GR
Битката за Алжир - BG
Битва за Алжир - UA
Битва за Алжир - SU
Kampen om Algerie - NO
I mahi tis Algerias - GR
معركة الجزائر - SA
معركة الجزائر - DZ
معركة الجزائر - AE
معركة الجزائر - EG
معركة الجزائر - QA
معركة الجزائر - IR
معركة الجزائر - IQ
معركة الجزائر - TN
معركة الجزائر - MA
معركة الجزائر - MR
معركة الجزائر - EH
معركة الجزائر - LY
معركة الجزائر - PS
معركة الجزائر - SD
Country:
Italy
Algeria
Language:
العربية
English
Français
Runtime: 02 hour 01 minutes
Budget: $800,000
Revenue: $964,028
Plot Keyword: revolution, algerian, insurrection, algiers, algeria, resistance fighter, north africa, algerian war (1954-62), battle of algiers, struggle for independence, anti-colonialism, maghreb, djazair, independance war
It's the mid 1950s and the population of Algeria are increasingly determined to break free from the colonial administration of France. From one perspective it's a fight for freedom, from the other a response to dangerous insurrectionism. What makes this drama stand out is the degree of impartiality with which it depicts the story. The French are still licking their wounds after leaving their Indo-Chinese empire and are desperate to avoid another defeat here. The local population are poorly educated and hopelessly outgunned but have the advantage of mobility and surprise as they seek to emulate their Oriental contemporaries. Neither side shies away from acts of brutality and that's depicted poignantly here with anyone in uniform a target for the rebels and any one at all a target by way of response. It has the feel of a docu-drama to it, with the characterisations of "La Ponte" (Brahim Hadjadj) and "Col. Mathieu" (Jean Martin) acting well as a conduit for both sides of a story that saw losers on every side and tested the humanity of each as any semblance of decency or a code of war went swiftly by the board. It's not just both sides here that are exposed to judgment, but the pretty hapless UN doesn't really come off any better (perhaps restricted by a potential French veto?). The photography and visual effects are very effective at presenting us with a largely urban war zone in which collateral damage was inevitable, and seemingly a price both parties were prepared to pay. The history of the scenario and it's results are fact, but Gillo Pontecorvo uses quite a considerable degree of creativity and sensitivity in demonstrating just how desperate times can result in desperate measures - and maybe even a little grudging respect. At times, the violence is claustrophobically presented and it's never an easy watch.
