The Battle of Algiers (1966)

In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.

Director:

Gillo Pontecorvo

Writers:

Franco Solinas, Franco Solinas (story) (as F. Solinas)

Stars:

Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi

Top Rated Movies #247 | Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brahim Hadjadj	...	Ali La Pointe (as Brahim Haggiag)
Jean Martin	...	Col. Mathieu
Yacef Saadi	...	Djafar (as Saadi Yacef)
Samia Kerbash	...	Fathia
Ugo Paletti	...	Captain
Fusia El Kader	...	Halima
Mohamed Ben Kassen	...	Petit Omar (as Petit Omar)

Storyline

A film commissioned by the Algerian government that shows the Algerian revolution from both sides. The French foreign legion has left Vietnam in defeat and has something to prove. The Algerians are seeking independence. The two clash. The torture used by the French is contrasted with the Algerian's use of bombs in soda shops. A look at war as a nasty thing that harms and sullies everyone who participates in it.

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Plot Keywords:

battle of algiers | torture | algeria | resistance | struggle for independence | 

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Taglines:

The Revolt that Stirred the World!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

One scene in the film depicts a loudspeaker announcement by the French counter-insurgency urging the rebels to surrender and claiming that many of the French officials were themselves anti-Nazis and had fought in the French resistance. Jean Martin, the actor playing Colonel Mathieu, commander of the French paratroopers, actually fought with the French resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II and was one of the signers of the 1960 Manifesto of 121 supporting Algerian independence.

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Goofs

In the final scenes of the film, showing the mass street protests, the French police are backed up by armored vehicles that are, in fact, Soviet-made SU-100 tank destroyers. These were part of the Algerian military when the film was made in 1966 after independence, but would not have been present or used by the French at any time.

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Quotes

[first lines]
French Interrogator: Couldn't you have talked sooner? It would've gone easier for you.

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Connections

Featured in Five Directors on 'The Battle of Algiers' (2004)

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Soundtracks

St. Matthew Passion BWV 244, 1st movement
(1727)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

User Reviews

I can't be objective !

As Algerian, I watched this movie 2 times a year for 20 years, this movie is a part of my story. It helped me to put imagines and sounds to stories I heard from my teachers, cousins, as my grand-parents and my parents still can't talk about that horrible war.

By now, as I'm growing old, I understand that this movie is not the 'Truth', it was 'war', and in a war even good people can do horrible things. And I know what I'm talking about as I was there, in Algeria, during the 'Dark Decennial', while we were fighting against our own people whom turned terrorists in the name of Islam.

So for those who will watch this film, please just remember not to judge any of the parties : Algerian /or/ French. It was a war and no war is nice, people die, and those who survive will suffer. Films/art are a form of exorcism for that pain we keep silently inside.

I like this movie, because I saw tears in the beautiful green eyes of my grand mother every time she watched it and it always gave her a good opportunity to cry for my grand father that she lost during the war. I saw my father crying for his father that he never knew, and saw him also being closer to his mom because.

For me, this movie will always be a 'Good movie to watch in Family'

Details

Country:

Italy Algeria

Language:

Arabic French English

Release Date:

20 September 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Battle of Algiers

Filming Locations:

Algeria

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$64,870, 11 January 2004

Gross USA:

$879,794

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$964,028

Company Credits

Production Co:

Igor Film, Casbah Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1