War is an event that evokes many emotions. On the one hand, war and their many images can emphasize pride, camaraderie among soldiers, and ideas of freedom, sacrifice, and fighting for something bigger than themselves. War, however, is essentially a disastrous experience, reeking with the stench of death, abuse, and corruption.
As with any other event in life, war has been portrayed in movies since private time broadcast of the Battle of Volo in 1897. Since then, war films have enjoyed huge success at international box offices and received glowing reviews. One of the best and most cherished war films manages to combine both perspectives on war, illustrating the camaraderie and sacrifice, but also the absolute horror.
The Battle of Algiers traces the Algerian Independence Movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s, in which Algerian citizens fought back against the colonial rule of the French army over the country; this culminated in the 1962 title fight, which is estimated to have killed more than a million people. Directed by Italian filmmaker Gillo Pontecorvo, the epic film continues to have a reputation for being highly celebrated for its depictions of war in multiple facets.
Capturing the true story of war on all fronts
Many war films tend to focus on a single perspective: the Americans, the British, whoever. When other perspectives are present, they are often portrayed as inferior, playing on the ever-present moralistic dichotomy between good and evil. The audience walks in alongside the Algerians and their French counterpart The Battle of Algiersbut the depictions of French nationals cannot be compared to those of the Algerians, the former behaving like a group of bystanders.
By way of comparison, the Algerian revolutionaries have their entire lives captured on camera. Not only is there a clear desire for their victory, but daily life in Algiers is documented. Both adults and children have found a way to deal with the colonial presence in their countries; However, coping is not a solution, but rather a bandage that covers the problems below the surface and keeps them hidden in plain sight.
The camaraderie between the Algerians does not exist only to emphasize a contrast between the lives of the two sides, nor does it exist only to portray a new found unity. Instead, the close loyalty among Algerians feels natural. The weight of independence rests heavily on the soldiers. However, the dialogue between the characters and the accompanying tone suggest that the bond within the Algerian community is eternal rather than conceived on a whim.
Algiers beyond the war
The Algerian War of Independence is just one of many conflicts related to decolonization. After World War II, many of the formerly formidable Western empires began to decline. The atrocities that took place in Africa and Asia were too shocking to simply ignore. Britain and France, in particular, were well aware that they lacked the manpower and capital to cement their control over their rebellious colonies.
What The Battle of Algiers succeeds is to present the audience with a story that contains the utmost authenticity. From the decision to cast the locals in the film to the gripping and accurate depictions of colonial oppression and subsequent resistance, the film was the best example audiences have of a perfect reenactment. Some even thought it was a documentary at the time.
Though some may have been skeptical about the casting decision non-professional Algerians, it was worth it in the end. The locals were alive and well to testify The Battle of Algiers itself, in addition to the independence movement across the country. So any need to express feelings of anger, doubt or frustration would have been unnecessary. The locals present not only represent the FLN, or the Algerian resistance, but throughout the film they become one of the many symbols of decolonization and post-colonialism in world literature and media.
Algiers in pictures
In addition to the important discourse that the film has spawned, The Battle of Algiers has also been praised for its stylistic choices. Pontecorvo and Marcello Gatti simulated a newsreel or a documentary and experimented with the different shots taken. The film occupies a unique place between a plethora of media forms: the documentary, the drama, and the news program, leveraging its unique hybrid to deliver intriguing scenes and meaningful dialogue. Because of the actors’ experience of the independence movement and how recent the war was at the time, each scene feels far too real to be written off as fiction or a rushed war movie.
In addition, the use of music complements the atmosphere of each scene. A memorable scene includes the female FLN revolutionaries planning their attack. As the film guides the audience through the women’s necessary steps, traditional Algerian music plays in the background. Instead of the instrumental serving as a stereotypical interlude, it further accentuates the ambition for independence in space with the active players.
Why is the Battle of Algiers important?
The Battle of Algiers is not just a war movie. It has done the rare feat of giving a voice to the oppressed without completely purifying the Algerian perspective. The directors tried to portray the events in a neutral light, and while that meant rejecting the original script, The Battle of Algiers still manages to see the liberation movement as a retaliation for violent French imperialism, which led to the film being banned in France until 1971.
The film doesn’t portray the FLN as pointless or savage, but rather speaks to a larger discussion about people of color and indigenous communities battling the dehumanization Western empires relied on to colonize large parts of the world.
Since its release, the movie celebrated by revolutionaries, film critics and even members of world governments. From its depiction of urban guerrilla warfare to its contributions to existing debates about decolonization, The Battle of Algiers remains a timeless classic whose messages will remain immortal through the many decisions made in the background and at the forefront.