Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo
Written by Franco Salinas and Gillo Pontecorvo
1966/Italy/Algiers
Casbah Film/Igor Film
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] Journalist: M. Ben M’Hidi, don’t you think it’s a bit cowardly to use women’s baskets and handbags to carry explosive devices that kill so many innocent people?
Ben M’Hidi: And doesn’t it seem to you even more cowardly to drop napalm bombs on defenseless villages, so that there are a thousand times more innocent victims? Of course, if we had your airplanes it would be a lot easier for us. Give us your bombers, and you can have our baskets.[/box]
This amazing documentary-style re-enactment of terrorism and retaliation in Algeria’s struggle for independence is hard to take but more relevant than ever.
The story begins with the radicalization of Ali, an illiterate teenager living in the Casbah of Algiers. He is readily accepted into one of many terrorist cells in the city. We witness many brutal attacks, including a major strike in which the Air France office and two cafes frequented by French people are targeted. The retaliation is equally brutal.
The French call in the army and Col. Mathieu sets about to destroy the Casbah. We are told terrorism was wiped out in Algiers and the war moved to the mountains. In the end, independence is won, not by terrorism, but by a shift in French opinion and a mass uprising of the people.
I just watched in awe as I contemplated the gigantic task Pontecorvo set for himself. There are crowd scenes with hundreds of extras that look exactly like newsreel footage. The chaos of the upheaval is vividly captured. It’s a masterpiece but not anything I will pull out on a regular basis.
In 2003, the Pentagon famously screened this film for officers and civilian experts who were discussing the challenges faced by the US military forces in Iraq. The flier inviting guests to the screening read: “How to win a battle against terrorism and lose the war of ideas”. Folks didn’t seem to learn much.
The Battle of Algiers was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written directly for the screen.
I was so mixed on this movie. Technically it is a master piece and some of the ideas are genuinely good.
The conflict is with the sympathies. The surface intent is that we are to think that killing French people is a good thing, that terrorist attacks are heroic acts and that clearing Algeria of French influence is an admirable purpose. Hindsight is a tough master, but looking at the movie and looking back at what happened to that country in the years that followed, it is very difficult to have any sympathy with the uprising, neither cause nor method. And that is, perhaps, a strike of genius in the movie, because it shows us the actions so bluntly that although it declares it as heroic, the pictures speak for themselves of an entirely different story, as if the director was not convinced himself.
And then of course the French response was so out of touch with the situation that they lost the war right there. There are indeed a lot of people today who ought to watch this movie and learn.
One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. The French could have chosen to pull out in a civilized manner like the British did (in some cases). Not that I sympathized with the terrorists or the French. War is hell and guerrilla war is the most hellish of all. Too bad Pontecorvo couldn’t have also included the common Frenchman and Algerian who just wanted to be left alone and got caught in the crossfire better. Wish this crap would stop in my lifetime but don’t hold out high hopes.
I’ll put this modern movie here for your consideration for when you take a blog break – another “you may have missed this and may never be alerted to it” movie.
Ce que le jour doit à la nuit aka What the Day Owes the Night (2012)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1934205/
do NOT read the member reviews (overall positive plus)as there are some spoilers……..why do people do that?????
I’d say 8.5 from 10 ie not a top 10 but certainly in the next 25 – basically a growing up drama with some romance tones covering a lot of time with excellent period sets and acting, set in Algeria, 1939 to 1960’ish. It did not fully engage me (so 8.5) but is very good. Add a point if “epic storytelling over a period of history, well budgeted” gets you in – it does me.
That does sound good. Maybe I should go over all your recommendations over the years and have a mini-Laurie film festival some time!
Well if you just watch one/some that’d be nice (with a report of course – “who likes THIS &$$&^%!!!” is fine LOL)
Had a lucky view last night (second good’un in a row). This one is hard to rate (as evidenced by the comments – again spoiler alert). Personally I thought it was very well done and a lot of smiles with one series of reimagined scenes hilarious.
(just in case these names make you go “no”-) I’ve never had time for Jack Black in **anything** but in this he is excellent which surprised. From comments Cusack is also a highly divisive actor (no opinion) but I thought he carried this in a sterling portrayal. The many, many musical references should please you – they did me. I can’t say “top 50” as it really seems to be personal preference – one that if you like, you will *really* like it, wife thought it was OK too.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/
I usually like John Cusack a lot and have always wanted to see this one! One to catch up with early on in the festival.
….additional – forgot to say – more than one reviewer said : sort of a male rom-com, that’s unusual and OK…..so Mr Bea as well??