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 #246 | 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 | 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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gillo Pontecorvo originally composed the score for the film but was later persuaded to use a more conventional score. Thus, Ennio Morricone was brought in.

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Goofs

In one scene, the rebels plant bombs in three locations in 1956. At one of the locations, the song "Rebecca" by Los Chakachas is playing on the jukebox. The song wasn't released until 1959.

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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 Marighella (2012)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A savage war of peace.

An historian writing about the Algerian war against the French colonial authorities entitled his book "A Savage War of Peace". "The Battle of Algiers" provides many answers to that enigmatic title. It does not attempt to show us the entire war but centers on the city of Algiers. Even though you are told at the beginning that no documentary footage is used it is at times hard to believe as many of the images you see have a stark and often unsettling reality to them. Considering that this was a co production between Algeria and Italy the film is remarkable in that it does not turn itself a political tirade by taking sides. Instead the camera is a sort of neutral observer allowing us to witness events that spiraled from individual demonstrations to a full scale war of savage intensity. French officers who fought the Nazis a few years before degenerated into the mode of their former enemy while Algerians had no problems exploding bombs that would kill their own people. The camera shows no heros or villains but humanity in its darkest forms. This is a powerful film with superb direction and cinematography. It truly is one of a kind and once seen will never be forgotten.

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