Film: The Battle of Algiers
Director: Gillo Pontecorvo
Country: Algeria / Italy
Released: August 1966
Runtime: 120 minutes
Genre: Drama
Studio: Casbah-Film
Influenced: Souleymane Cissé, Spike Lee, Idrissa Ouedraogo, Ridley Scott, Paul Greengrass
Particularly groundbreaking was Pontecorvo's use of handheld cameras, as well as the use of natural lighting and the semi-documentary style of filmmaking. The film employs a cinema verité approach that makes it feel like a newsreel and this raw, unpolished style helps to convey the chaotic nature of the urban guerilla warfare depicted in the film. At one point, philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre's voice is heard reading a statement in support of Algeria's National Liberation Front (FLN), in which he condemns the French government's brutal repression of the Algerian people and calls for their right to self-determination. Battle of Algiers also has a non-linear structure, with flashbacks and flash-forwards used to highlight different aspects of the conflict, an innovative storytelling technique that has influenced countless filmmakers.
Pontecorvo hired legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone to compose the score, which is notable for its mix of electric guitars, percussion and brass along with traditional Algerian instruments, such as the darbuka and the oud, to create an authentic sound. One of the most famous pieces from the score is the title track, The Battle of Algiers, featuring a pulsing beat and a memorable guitar riff. It has often been used in film and TV as a shorthand for political unrest and revolution. Throughout the film, Morricone's music is a crucial element in creating a sense of urgency and emotional intensity.
Pontecorvo's film explores a number of themes, including colonialism, nationalism, terrorism and political resistance. It portrays the Algerian struggle for independence as a righteous cause, with the FLN depicted as freedom fighters battling against an oppressive French regime. The film also raises questions about the use of violence as a means of achieving political goals. The FLN is shown using terror tactics to strike fear into the French population, including planting bombs in public places and assassinating French officials. The film does not condone this violence, but it does show how it was used as a last resort by a people who had been denied their basic human rights for decades.
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is the bombing of the Milk Bar, which takes place early on in the conflict. The scene is shot in a tense, documentary-style, with the camera following the bombers as they place their explosives and then quickly leave the scene. The bombing itself is shown in graphic detail, with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. This scene sets the tone for the rest of the film and highlights the senseless violence that is central to the conflict. Another powerful scene in the film is the interrogation of Ali La Pointe, a key member of the FLN. The French paratroopers who capture La Pointe use brutal tactics to try and extract information from him, including waterboarding and electric shocks.
Pontecorvo saves perhaps the most tense and brutal scenes until the end of the film. The FLN is ultimately successful in driving the French out of Algeria, but at a high cost. The film ends with a series of black & white stills that show the aftermath of the conflict, including images of burned-out buildings and dead bodies. This sobering finale drives home the message that conflict, no matter how just the cause, always exacts a heavy toll.
Pontecorvo's film explores a number of themes, including colonialism, nationalism, terrorism and political resistance. It portrays the Algerian struggle for independence as a righteous cause, with the FLN depicted as freedom fighters battling against an oppressive French regime. The film also raises questions about the use of violence as a means of achieving political goals. The FLN is shown using terror tactics to strike fear into the French population, including planting bombs in public places and assassinating French officials. The film does not condone this violence, but it does show how it was used as a last resort by a people who had been denied their basic human rights for decades.
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is the bombing of the Milk Bar, which takes place early on in the conflict. The scene is shot in a tense, documentary-style, with the camera following the bombers as they place their explosives and then quickly leave the scene. The bombing itself is shown in graphic detail, with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. This scene sets the tone for the rest of the film and highlights the senseless violence that is central to the conflict. Another powerful scene in the film is the interrogation of Ali La Pointe, a key member of the FLN. The French paratroopers who capture La Pointe use brutal tactics to try and extract information from him, including waterboarding and electric shocks.
Pontecorvo saves perhaps the most tense and brutal scenes until the end of the film. The FLN is ultimately successful in driving the French out of Algeria, but at a high cost. The film ends with a series of black & white stills that show the aftermath of the conflict, including images of burned-out buildings and dead bodies. This sobering finale drives home the message that conflict, no matter how just the cause, always exacts a heavy toll.
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