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

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean Martin	...	Col. Mathieu
Yacef Saadi	...	Djafar (as Saadi Yacef)
Brahim Hadjadj	...	Ali La Pointe (as Brahim Haggiag)
Tommaso Neri	...	Captain
Samia Kerbash	...	Fathia
Ugo Paletti	...	Captain
Fusia El Kader	...	Halima
Franco Moruzzi	...	(as Franco Morici)
Mohamed Ben Kassen	...	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 | algeria | resistance | struggle for independence | street fighter | 

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Taglines:

The French Colonel...who was forced even to torture! One of the many women...who stopped at nothing to win! The Algerian Street Boy...who became a rebel hero!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy Algeria

Language:

French Arabic 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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$55,908, 6 January 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Casbah Film, Igor Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Yacef Saadi, whose memoirs were the bases of this film, played his own real life character in this film that is "Djafar".

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Goofs

The foot responsible for tripping Ali when running down the street changes from the right to the left foot between cuts.

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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

Referenced in Marxist Poetry: The Making of 'The Battle of Algiers' (2004)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Powerful and Impressive Masterpiece

In 1954, the National Liberation Front of Algiers shots many French policemen beginning a movement for the independence of their country; in return, the Chief of Police plants a bomb in the Arab quarter, killing many dwellers. The NLF sends three women with bombs to two bars and the Air France office in the European quarter, killing many people. The French government sends the military forces under the command of the abusive Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin) that does not respect the human rights and uses torture to destroy the NLF command. In 1962, the Algerians finally achieve their aimed independence.

"La Battaglia di Algeri" is a powerful and impressive masterpiece about the fight that happened in Algiers in the period between 1954 and 1962 between the Algerian resistance and the French military forces. A couple of months ago I saw "Mon Colonel", another magnificent movie about this dark period of the mankind history. In both movies, we see no difference between the methods used by French in Algerian, or the Nazis in World War II, or the South American's dictatorships in the 60's, 70's and 80's, or by the American in Iraq, of the Chinese in Tibet. "Liberty, Fraternity, Equality for us, but torture and abuse of the human rights for the others" should be the correct sentence applicable to most nations. Therefore the writing of Machiavelli in "The Prince" about the behavior of the "princes" along history could be updated to the disrespect of human rights by powerful nations against weakest ones in the name of their best interests. This movie is impressive because it seems to be a documentary, with grainy cinematography and non-professional actors, in a perfect contemporary Neorealism. I am not familiar with the work of director Gillo Pontecorvo, but I really believe that this movie is his masterpiece. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "A Batalha de Argel" ("The Battle of Algiers")