Battle of algiers notable themes february 11, 2015 christopher bouquet leave a comment there are several recurring and important themes portrayed in the battle of algiers, undoubtedly meant to expose the truth behind unstable areas of the word and the violence that comes with them. The battle of algiers 1966 the criterion collection. The battle of algiers, a great film by the young italian director gillo pontecorvo, exists at this level of bitter reality. It is not propaganda as it shows the detailed happenings of the war without showing an apparent bias. Gillo pontecorvos the battle of algiers, filmed in 1965, released in late 1967, is the crucial film about this new kind of warfare. Battle of algiers notable themes introduction to film and. Contains interesting details on the films genesis and reception and on pontecorvos intentions. The focus is thrown on the leaders of the liberation movement and the french general who is driven obsessively with catching them. The battle of algiers, italianalgerian war film, released in 1966, that is the signature achievement of director gillo pontecorvo and an acclaimed experiment in. It is of its time in many ways, yet somehow more extreme, and more contemporary, than anything else around. So accurate is the battle of algiers that it has been shown within terrorist. This question is left unanswered because the movie shows such a remarkable balance in the depiction that it is almost impossible to pick sides with justified reasons. The movies focus on urban terrorism and the use of.
Forty years later it found an unlikely revival via the us military who was interested in it due to its involvement in the iraq war. May 11, 2007 the battle of algiers t he rerelease of gillo pontecorvos 1966 blackandwhite film the battle of algiers, recreating frances suppression of the 1950s algerian uprising, is an extraordinary. The french foreign legion has left vietnam in defeat and. As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at pointblank. The battle of algiers also also takes 15 minutes to show a sequence of three women planting bombs around the city. The black and white classic film the battle of algiers 1966, is a dramatized documentary of the algerian struggle for freedom. The visually striking film documents the algerian revolt against the french in 195462, with a focus on the events of. The battle of algiers convincing recreations are so well choreographed that they look like documentary footage.
This cinema classic is based on events that took place during the 19541962 algerian struggle for independence from the french. It presents the historical account of the struggle of algerian nationalists for independence from french colonists, and in doing so. An extraordinary movie that ruffled many feathers when it first came out. Additional the paper also explores how the battle of algiers set out to portray its subject realistically. The battle of algiers was produced in 1966 directed by italian filmmaker gillo pontecorvo and written by franco solinas as well as gillo pontecorvo. It is based on events by rebels during the algerian war against the french government in north africa. Highly praised for its accurate account of the battle of algiers the battle in the algerian war of independence, the movie can arguably be considered a historical documentation of the algerians struggle for independence. As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at pointblank range, women plant bombs in cafes, and french soldiers resort to torture to break the will of. The battle of algiers movie analysis film studies essay.
Gillo pontecorvos masterpiece about the turbulent last years of french colonial rule in algeria, seen from the perspective of. It featured the algerian war of independence from the french in the 1950s, and captured the revolutionary times of that decade. Many new people are discovering pontecorvos 1965 classic movie, the battle of algiers. Battle of algiers is simply one of the greatest films every made. A short book offering an overview of pontecorvos career up to 1979 with interview commentary on the main films and a twentypage chapter on the battle of algiers. It also shows how the french lost the battle of algiers but ultimately lost the algerian war. This cinematic realism essay is on the battle of algiers the paper explores the films approach and how it define realism. Aug 27, 2003 a column in the washington post reported yesterday that the pentagons special operations chiefs have decided to screen the battle of algiers, gillo pontecorvos 1965 classic film of urban. The battle of algiers is a 1966 italianalgerian historical war film cowritten and directed by gillo pontecorvo and starring jean martin and saadi yacef. By the use of force, including torture, general jacques massu breaks the strike. Cinematic classic of resistance returns to the big screen bilal qureshi writes that the battle of algiers, currently in movie theaters for a 50th anniversary rerelease.
The battle of algiers is a film that reflects the battles between the fln and the french. Oct 10, 2004 the battle of algiers is a training film for urban guerrillas, jimmy breslin declared on tv in 1968. The battle of algiers is a training film for urban guerrillas, jimmy breslin declared on tv in 1968. The battle of algiers 1966 gillo pontecorvo synopsis. Certainly it was shown by the black panthers and the ira to their members, and in september 2003 the new york times reported that the movie was being shown in the pentagon to. The battle of algiers the battle of algiers, a 1965 film depicting algerian uprisings against french troops occupying their country, is being rereleased in theaters friday. With brahim hadjadj, jean martin, yacef saadi, samia kerbash.
The aforementioned movie is regarded as a war film that is based on the algerian war that took place during the years 1954 to 1962. Truetolife chronicle of the algerian peoples struggle to overthrow the french colonial government in the mid1950s. Oct 01, 2010 thus, an august 2003 battle of algiers screening at the pentagon was interpreted by the news media as raising questions regarding the efficacy of torture as a means for combating terrorism. The battle of algiers surely counts among the most important films in the history of cinemanot only for its striking aesthetic innovations and its penetrating insights, but also for its sheer force as a political statement. Rent the battle of algiers 1966 starring brahim haggiag and jean martin on dvd and bluray. The battle of algiers is a film that everyone should see. It is a movie that rebuilds the events that were witnessed in algeria in 19541962. In 2010, empire also ranked the movie 6th in the 100 best films of world cinema. Feb 18, 2017 the battle of algiers reconstructs the events that occurred in algiers the capital city of algeria between 1954 and 1957. Hayreddin, succeeding aruj after the latter was killed in battle against the spaniards in the fall of tlemcen 1517, was the founder of the pashaluk, which subsequently became the beylik, of algeria. Thus, an august 2003 battle of algiers screening at the pentagon was interpreted by the news media as raising questions regarding the efficacy of torture as a means for combating terrorism.
Certainly it was shown by the black panthers and the ira to their members, and in september 2003 the new york times reported that the movie was being shown in the pentagon to military and civilian experts. Thankfully, criterion has risen to the films challenge with a package of outstanding quality, one that is of value both. Its based on events by rebels during the algerian war and received negative receptions in france when it was first peroduced. The focus is thrown on the leaders of the liberation movement and the french. Rent the battle of algiers 1966 on dvd and bluray dvd. Battle of algiers was released in 1966, 4 years after the end of the algerian war. A genuinely prophetic movieif one based on past eventsgillo pontecorvos radical arab drama shows the roughandready future of warfare. Colonialism in battle of algiers introduction to film. Almost 40 years later, it retains the poignancy it delivered back then. Its content clearly brings out the unbiased story in the war. Dec 01, 2003 a history of the threeyear battle of algiers, chronicling the escalating terrorism and violence between french military forces and the algerian independence movement, based on the memoirs of saadi yacef, a leader of the national liberation front.
Watch the battle of algiers movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. A column in the washington post reported yesterday that the pentagons special operations chiefs have decided to screen the battle of algiers. The battle of algiers movie trailer and videos tv guide. The battle of algiers makes it clear that, regardless of the rightness of the cause for which the battle is being fought, there will always be civilian casualties men and women going about their daily routine who will never return home at night because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now that iraq is on the brink of civil war, there is increased interest in the french experience in algeria. The battle of algiers synopsis a history of the threeyear battle of algiers, chronicling the escalating terrorism and violence between french military forces and the algerian independence movement, based on the memoirs of saadi yacef, a leader of the national liberation front.
Additional the paper also explores how the battle of algiers set out to portray its subject realistically cinematic realism essay the battle of algiers. In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of algiers fight for independence from the french government. The battle of algiers, italianalgerian war film, released in 1966, that is the signature achievement of director gillo pontecorvo and an acclaimed experiment in cinema verite. It is about the algerian war, but those not interested in algeria may substitute another war. The fiftieth anniversary of the release of the battle of algiers gillo pontecorvo, 1966 offers an occasion to challenge commonplaces about the film and to show that there remains much to be clarified about its character. French soldiers have just finished using torture to interrogate an algerian prisoner. Typically discussed in terms of its debt to italian neorealism, the battle of algiers can also be related to. Based on true events that occurred between 1954 and 1957, the film depicts the rise of an algerian national liberation front fln cell in algiers, its violent confrontations with the french colonial authorities, and its eventual destruction at the. The release of the battle of algiers coincided with the decolonization period and national liberation wars, as well as a rising tide of leftwing radicalism in western nations in which a large minority showed interest in armed struggle. Imprisoned, he joins the rebel group fln and takes up arms against the colonial french government.
The fln began their campaign in shooting military police in the casbah, the predominantly muslim quarter of the city, as they were able to blend back into the scene with the support of the populace. In my 2008 book pictures at a revolution, i approached the dramatic changes in movie culture in the 1960s through the development, production, and reception of each of the five nominees for 1967s best picture academy award. One of the most influential political films in history, the battle of algiers, by gillo pontecorvo, vividly recreates a key year in the tumultuous algerian struggle for independence from the occupying french in the 1950s. The battle of algiers cinema and media studies oxford. The battle of algiers t he rerelease of gillo pontecorvos 1966 blackandwhite film the battle of algiers, recreating frances suppression of the 1950s algerian uprising, is an extraordinary. The film was shot in a roberto rosselliniinspired newsreel style. A film commissioned by the algerian government that shows the algerian revolution from both sides. Specific incidents in this battle in algiers between 1954 and the time of independence in 1962 are presented. The movie is partisan enough to skirt the uglier extremes of the fln. Gillo pontecorvos masterpiece about the turbulent last years of french colonial rule in algeria, seen from the perspective of both the guerrilla revolutionaries and the french authorities.
The battle of algiers is a 1966 film by gillo pontecorvo, and is a dramatization of the algerian war of independence. The film functions more as an overview of the titular battle than a traditional characterbased narrative. The battle of algiers has a universal frame of reference. Battle of algiers notable themes introduction to film. Algeria gained independence in 1962, the same year the algerian war ended. Aruj came to algiers, ordered the assassination of selim, and seized the town and ousted the spanish in the capture of algiers 1516. The battle of algiers film by pontecorvo 1966 britannica. A movie about islamic terrorist including female bombers attacking western hotels,restaurants, and airports 34 years before 911. Mar 12, 2017 now that iraq is on the brink of civil war, there is increased interest in the french experience in algeria. It involves the provingground of the emerging tactics in algeria from 1954 to 1962, as france tried and failed to contain a nationalist uprising. It illustrates how ineffective checkpoints are against a determined foe.
The rebels began their attacks by shooting policeman and other government officials. The battle of algiers was an iconic film of the 1960s. It may be a deeper film experience than many audiences can withstand. Recreating the carnage of fifties algeria bombings, assassinations, police torture the battle of algiers is as relevant today as it was in. The movie s focus on urban terrorism and the use of torture by the military clearly resonate in todays iraq. A history of the threeyear battle of algiers, chronicling the escalating terrorism and violence between french military forces and the algerian independence movement, based on the memoirs of saadi yacef, a leader of the national liberation front. Limiting the partisan bias allows the battle of algiers to stand outside of one time period and be representative not only of this war but all wars. The battle of algiers reconstructs the events that occurred in algiers the capital city of algeria between 1954 and 1957. A great, stark, bleak movie that the viewer will never forget. It was shot on location and the films score was composed by ennio morricone.
It was selected to enter the list of the 100 italian films to be saved. The battle of algiers is a 1966 italianalgerian historical war film cowritten and directed by gillo. This is a charged moment for rialto pictures to rerelease gillo pontecorvos classic the battle of algiers, which won the top prize at the 1966. An average of 800 shootings and bombings per month occurred through the spring of 1957. The battle of algiers looks even more troubling in. The battle of algiers was a revolution against the french colonial rule in north africa. Filmed in a semidocumentary format, this film deals with the battle of algiers 195657 part of the broader fight for algerian independence 195462 from french colonial rule. If film making can be about truth as well as fantasy, then a movie that includes a title card telling viewers that there is not one foot of documentary or newsreel footage in it must deserve viewing.
46 674 190 760 71 522 35 1470 1404 949 1225 1557 1172 991 977 624 613 380 248 1279 145 800 908 1303 617 487 1051 1489 1266 969 1344 613 1190 1417 282 801 1235 1204 1100 1140 1361 685 597