Drama,War,History
Italy,Algeria
The Battle of Algiers is a 1966 Italian-Algerian historical war film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. Its story is based on the actual events that occurred during the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) between French forces and Algerian independence fighters known as the National Liberation Front (FLN).
The film starts with Ali La Pointe, a young and impoverished Algerian man who becomes part of the FLN and rises to a position of leadership within the organization. The story then begins to detail the events that occurred during the Algerian War of Independence.
The film portrays the brutal tactics employed by both sides of the conflict. The FLN engages in bombings and assassinations of French civilians and military personnel, while the French army and police utilize torture, extrajudicial killings, and other extreme measures to quell the rebellion.
As the conflict intensifies, the French government sends in their paratrooper regiment to regain control of the city. The French use tanks, helicopters, and other heavy weaponry to root out the FLN fighters, who use guerrilla tactics to strike back at the French forces.
The film culminates with the FLN's declaration of independence on July 3rd, 1962, and the evacuation of French civilians and military personnel from Algeria. The film ends with the message, "Algeria will no longer be French; it will be nothing."
The Battle of Algiers has been lauded for its portrayal of both sides of the conflict and for its unflinching depiction of the brutal tactics used by both the French and the FLN. The film has been influential in shaping modern cinema and is still widely regarded as a powerful and important work of cinema.
