IMDb RATING
8.1/10
68K
YOUR RATING
In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 9 wins & 8 nominations total
Brahim Hadjadj
- Ali La Pointe
- (as Brahim Haggiag)
Yacef Saadi
- Djafar
- (as Saadi Yacef)
Fouzia El Kader
- Halima
- (as Fusia El Kader)
Mohamed Ben Kassen
- Petit Omar
- (as Petit Omar)
Franco Moruzzi
- Mahmoud
- (uncredited)
Tommaso Neri
- Captain
- (uncredited)
Rouiched
- The Drunk Man
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne of the few films in Oscar® history to be a nominee in two separate non-consecutive years. It was a foreign film nominee for 1966 and then a nominee for screenplay and direction for 1968.
- GoofsIn the final scenes, showing the mass street protests, the French police are backed up by armored vehicles that are 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.
- Quotes
Ben M'Hidi: It's hard to start a revolution. Even harder to continue it. And hardest of all to win it. But, it's only afterwards, when we have won, that the true difficulties begin. In short, Ali, there's still much to do.
- Crazy creditsThe credits for the French release, which are used for contemporary versions of the film, differ from the credits in the original Italian release. In the original credits, Brahim Hadjadj is below Jean Martin and Yacef Saadi, Tommaso Neri is billed as one of the leads, Franco Moruzzi is credited, and Samia Kerbash is given the surname "Michele". The French release gives Hadjadj top billing, removes Neri and Moruzzi from the credits, and refers to Kerbash by her correct surname.
- ConnectionsEdited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019)
Featured review
"Battle of Algiers" is simply one of the greatest films every made. If film making can be about truth as well as fantasy, then a movie that includes a title card telling viewers that there is not one foot of documentary or newsreel footage in it must deserve viewing.
"Battle of Algiers" contains scenes that seem so real, you suspect that they couldn't have been staged. When three Algerian women come down from the Casbah to plant bombs in the French quarter of the city, you can almost cut the tension with a knife. When the bombs go off, you think they must have been real bombs. And when you see the devastation they leave in their wake, you cannot fail to be moved. The massive rebellion in the streets at the end of the film also seems so real, you sit wondering how many extras must have been injured filming those scenes.
"Battle of Algiers" combines brilliant photography, crisp direction, an intriguing plot and some very fine acting. Throw in a terrific music score, splendid editing, impressive special effects and the best example ever of docudrama style production and you have a masterpiece of film making.
But film making is not nearly as important as human life and no film in general release today says more about America's current involvement in the middle east and many other parts of the world than this picture about the French in Algeria, made more than three decades ago.
Every American should view this film, then think about our current occupation of Iraq.
"Battle of Algiers" contains scenes that seem so real, you suspect that they couldn't have been staged. When three Algerian women come down from the Casbah to plant bombs in the French quarter of the city, you can almost cut the tension with a knife. When the bombs go off, you think they must have been real bombs. And when you see the devastation they leave in their wake, you cannot fail to be moved. The massive rebellion in the streets at the end of the film also seems so real, you sit wondering how many extras must have been injured filming those scenes.
"Battle of Algiers" combines brilliant photography, crisp direction, an intriguing plot and some very fine acting. Throw in a terrific music score, splendid editing, impressive special effects and the best example ever of docudrama style production and you have a masterpiece of film making.
But film making is not nearly as important as human life and no film in general release today says more about America's current involvement in the middle east and many other parts of the world than this picture about the French in Algeria, made more than three decades ago.
Every American should view this film, then think about our current occupation of Iraq.
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $800,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $879,794
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $64,870
- Jan 11, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $962,002
- Runtime2 hours 1 minute
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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