The Battle of Algiers October 28, 2006

Directed Gillo Pontecorvo
Italy/Algeria 1965, 35mm, b/w, 123 min.
With Jean Martin, Brahim Haggiag, Yacef Saadi

Inspired stylistically by Italian neorealist cinema, Battle of Algiers uses non-actors and documentary-style footage in its dramatic account of Algeria’s National Liberation Front’s uprising against the French during the years of 1954-1957. The film focuses on a National Liberation Front leader (Haggiag) and a French colonel (Martin), and works to represent the complexity of the conflict, showing the violence perpetrated by both sides while at the same time arousing sympathies for all the civilians harmed by the fighting. A powerful piece of filmmaking, Battle of Algiers raises important questions about the nature of imperialism and occupation, and reminds the viewer that one man’s terrorist is another man’s revolutionary.

Official Website: http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/films/2006fall/algeria.html#battle