Amazing Realism - "The Battle of Algiers" (1966)
A movie as controversial and thought provoking as they come. I got to see “The Battle of Algiers” at the encouragement of a friend. There are some films you watch and they stay in your mind forever. “The Battle of Algiers” is one of them. Let’s take a closer look.
Thapson
Introduction
As the title says, the movie covers the battle for the “control” of the city of Algiers, and in effect, the country of Algeria. It’s dedicated to the Algerian Revolution during the 1950s leading to its independence from France.
Shot not long after that war, it feels more like a documentary. So realistic is the portrayal of events in Algiers, you have to remind yourself that the events are recreations. The film is inspired by the book “Souvenirs de la Bataille d’Alger” written by the FLN (National Liberation Front) commander Saadi Yacef. Saadi, incidentally plays himself in the movie.
“…one has to keep reminding oneself that the events are recreations…”
Neorealism Style
The director, Italian Gillo Pontecorvo (1919-2006), does a brilliant job in recreating a 1950s feel to the movie complete with Black & White photography. One gets a sense of witnessing the events unfolding around him/her.
To add to the authenticity, it’s shot on location, using ordinary local citizens. Some specific scenes are precisely recreated. Gillo aims to highlight the struggle for independence throughout the world. Here, it involves the clash of French soldiers fresh from the Indo-China conflict, with Algerian guerrillas. The irony is that the French soldiers included some Resistance Fighters from WW II.
The movie is so controversial, it was banned in France until 1971. Some countries required an edit to the violent content. And the Pentagon reportedly studied the movie, to learn how they could win the war in Iraq, without losing the hearts and minds of the people there.
Cast / Main Characters
Almost all the Algerians, including leading characters, include everyday people. Some were directly involved in the original struggle. Jean Martin, is among the few professional French actors involved.
Synopsis
The movie starts with a look at everyday life in Algiers and the simmering resentment the Algerians have against their French colonizers. We witness the humiliation of Arabs by the French on a daily basis.
There’s an act of mischief, on the part of some French, leading to death and destruction in the Arab quarter of Algiers. This triggers reprisals from the Arabs. All hell breaks loose as the French come down with a heavy hand on the Arabs. Things begin to get ugly as both sides adopt questionable actions. The French make lives miserable for the Arab population in their attempt to weed out the guerrillas. The FLN have plans of their own as they initiate a bombing campaign on ordinary French civilians in Algiers.
While this tit for tat battle rages on, the French deploy troops to restore “law and order” to the city. From here on, things spiral out of control with extreme acts of violence on both sides. Some of these so realistic, they’re hard to watch. Consequent to the French adopting ever draconian policies, the entire Arab population rises up. This leaves the French with no option but to eventually give in to the demands of the Algerians.
It’s not just the story itself, but the realistic portrayal of it, that captures your attention. Consequently, it becomes a study of sorts, of this conflict, for both the oppressor and the oppressed around the world.
“The Battle of Algiers” Trailer / prescija – YouTube.com
My Take
“The Battle of Algiers” is a gripping movie. The director realistically highlights the suffering of colonized people and their struggle for freedom. This realism makes it all the harder to watch.
The deaths of innocent people in this struggle, on both sides, is difficult to swallow. As a pacifist and a believer in the power of peaceful persuasion, I was taken aback by the level of violence used. Forceful change may affect the desired result, but the bitterness it nurtures stays forever. I may sound naïve here, but some philosophies are timeless nonetheless. Non-violence was used quite successfully by Mahatma Gandhi against the British Empire just a decade earlier. I am sure a win-win solution could have been found in this scenario.
While I am happy for the success of the revolution in Algeria, it appears to have left bitter feelings on both sides. In any case, “The Battle of Algiers” is a great movie for anyone familiar/unfamiliar, with the Algerian civil war. It seems to have close parallels to events that happened recently in the Middle East. In closing, the film may not be everyone’s cup of tea if one prefers less realism and more entertaining fare. I’ll be back with another movie review soon.
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