Once banned in France, The Battle of Algiers is an important film that tells the true story of the war in an innovative, realistic way.
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War is an event that evokes plenty of emotions. On the one hand, war and their many depictions can highlight pride, camaraderie among soldiers, and ideas of freedom, sacrifice, and fighting for something greater than oneself. War, however, is a cataclysmic experience at its core, reeking with the stench of death, abuse, and corruption.
As with any other life occurrence, war has been depicted in films since the private broadcast of the Battle Of Volo in 1897. Since then, war films have seen monumental success at international box offices and have been met with glimmering reviews. One of the best and most cherished war films manages to combine both perspectives of war, illustrating the camaraderie and sacrifice but also the absolute horror.
The Battle of Algiers follows the Algerian Independence Movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s, in which Algerian citizens fought back against the French military’s colonial rule over the country; this culminated in the titular battle in 1962, in which more than one million people are estimated to have died. Directed by Italian filmmaker Gillo Pontecorvo, the epic picture still holds the reputation of being highly celebrated for its depictions of war in multiple facets.
Capturing the War’s True Story on All Fronts
Many war films tend to center on a sole perspective — the Americans, the British, whoever. If any other perspectives are present, they’re often portrayed as inferior, playing into the ever-so-present moralistic dichotomy between good and evil. Audiences walk alongside the Algerians and their French counterpart in The Battle of Algiers, but the depictions of French nationals do not compare to that of the Algerians, with the former acting akin to a group of bystanders.
In comparison, the Algerian revolutionaries have their whole lives displayed on the camera. Not only is there a clear desire for their victory, but everyday life in Algiers is documented. Adults and children alike have found a way to cope with the colonial presence in their land; however, coping is not a solution but rather a bandage covering the problems under the surface and hidden in plain sight.
The camaraderie between the Algerians does not exist solely to highlight a contrast between the lives of the two sides, nor does it solely exist to depict a new-found unity. Instead, the close-knit loyalty among the Algerians feels natural. The weight of independence rests heavily on the soldiers. However, the dialogue between the characters and the accompanying tone suggests that the bond within the Algerian community is eternal rather than invented in the spur of the moment.
Algiers Beyond the War
The Algerian war of independence is only one of many conflicts connected to decolonization. Following the Second World War, many of the formerly formidable Western empires started to decline. The atrocities that occurred in Africa and Asia were too jarring to simply ignore. Britain and France in particular were well aware that they lacked the manpower and the capital to reinforce their control over their rebelling colonies.
What The Battle of Algiers succeeds in doing is presenting audiences with a story containing the utmost authenticity. From the decision to cast locals in the film to the harrowing and accurate depictions of colonial oppression and subsequent resistance, the film was the closest example audiences have of a perfect reenactment. Some even thought it was a documentary at the time.
While some may have been skeptical of the decision to cast non-professional Algerians, it was ultimately worthwhile. The locals were alive to witness The Battle of Algiers itself, alongside the independence movement throughout the country. Thus, any need to perform feelings of anger, doubt, or frustration would have been unnecessary. Not only do the locals present represent the FLN, or the Algerian resistance, but through the film, they become one of many symbols of decolonization and post-colonialism in world literature and media.
Algiers in Pictures
Alongside the important discourse the film has birthed, The Battle of Algiers has also been commended for its stylistic choices. Mimicking a newsreel or a documentary, Pontecorvo and Marcello Gatti experimented with the various shots taken. The film sits in a unique spot between a plethora of media forms: the documentary, the drama, and the news program, making use of its unique hybrid to deliver intriguing scenes and meaningful dialogue. Due to the actors’ experience with the independence movement and with how recent the war was at the time, every scene feels far too real to write off as fiction or a rushed war film.
Moreover, the use of music complements the mood of each scene. A memorable scene includes the female FLN revolutionaries planning for their attack. As the film walks audiences through the necessary steps taken by the women, traditional Algerian music plays in the background. Rather than the instrumental serving as a stereotypical interlude, it further accentuates the ambition for independence in the room with the active players.
Why Is The Battle of Algiers Important?
The Battle Of Algiers is not just another war movie. It has accomplished the rare feat of giving the oppressed a voice without completely sanitizing the Algerian perspective. The directors sought to capture the events in a neutral light and while that meant rejecting the initial script, The Battle Of Algiers still manages to frame the liberation movement as a retaliation to violent French imperialism, leading to the film being banned in France until 1971.
The film does not portray the FLN as senseless or savage, but rather speaks to a larger discussion about people of color and indigenous communities fighting against the dehumanization that western empires relied on to colonize large swaths of the globe.
Since its release, the film has been celebrated by revolutionaries, film critics and even members of world governments. From the depiction of urban guerilla warfare to the contributions the film provided to existing discussions about decolonization, The Battle Of Algiers remains a timeless classic whose messages will remain immortal because of the many decisions made in the background and the forefront.
