Battle of Algiers One of the More

¶ … Battle of Algiers

One of the more popular themes in motion pictures surrounds the conflict between ideas. These ideas may be of a personal nature, a professional nature, or in many cases, of such epic proportions that they are epic and larger than life. Many of these conflicts, at least at the movies, take on the idea of some type of revolution as part of an overall character -- an armed rebellion of the oppressed against the oppressors. The audience can relate to this because it is the "little guy" versus the "big guy." This is fairly typically in mainstream Hollywood -- "Braveheart," "The Patriot," and others -- all share the idea of a small group of people trying to overthrow a large, and usually evil, empire. One interesting movie, filmed in a more realistic mode, probably never meant for mass appeals, is the 1966 production of "The Battle of Algiers."

The Battle of Algiers is a historically-based movie centering around the events that occurred between 1954 and 1960 during the French/Algerian War of Independence. The film was Italian based, and released in French and Arabic. What made this movie so special was the style in which it was filmed, almost documentary like; the use of non-professional or unknown actors; realism to the extreme; and a very forward use of propaganda to show the social outrage of French colonialism ("The Battle of Algiers," 2010).

Historically, the Algerian Revolution was an attempt by Islamic nationals to rid the country of French colonial control. The Algerian Liberation Army wanted its case taken to global public opinion, pointing out the harshness and inequality of French rule. The French response was to increase troop levels from 80,000 in 1954 to over 1/2 million by 1956; to place even harsher laws against any insurgency, and to use whatever brutal means necessary to put down the rebellion. The French, of course, in the 1950s were a First World military power, and in June of 1957, the Battle of Algiers ended with a French victory on paper. The French completely outnumbered the Algerians, but much like all guerilla wars; the French controlled the towns and the politics, but the guerillas really controlled the country. However, the resulting media and public outrage against the French for the use of torture, throwing people in jail simply for disagreeing with the government. This was similar to that expressed in Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany, and the United Nations and other Western powers turned against the French, eventually allowing the Algerian revolution to win out over the French conquerors (Talbot, 1980).

The Battle of Algiers was unique in that cinematographer Marcello Gatti filmed using black and white, less attention to stabilizing the cameras, and camera form and angels that resembled the look of a newsreel or documentary film. When one views the film, even fifty years later, it is hard not to believe that no newsreels were used and spliced into the film (Slocum, 2005, 25). Additionally, director Gillo Pontecorvo chose the cast from non-professionals in Algeria, choosing them based on their dramatic appearance, their unique characteristics, and their natural camera charisma. Many of the lines were therefore dubbed for these individuals, but the resulting realism also contributes to a newsreel feel. Pontecorvo did use one professional actor, Jean Martin as the French Colonel Mathieu. Martin was a stage actor, though, and most audiences were unfamiliar with him when the movie was released. In a similar manner, sound and music were used to impart plot and emotional development, and Pontecorvo himself developed a number of small themes that composer Ennio Morricone (think American spaghetti westerns) could incorporate into the score (Matthews, 2010).

The major themes of the movie, really film imitating life, are the Islamic Algerians vs. The French colonialists; a theme that is echoed again and again in 20th century films -- usually Western powers unfairly taking over governments in less developed countries. The film shows how the people of Algeria, even though they did not have the same amount of guns, ammunition, or money to run the war, continued to fight for their freedom. It shows how the French, even with their superior weapons and political control, could not keep the spirit of the Algerian freedom fighters from continuing their quest for self-rule; even if that meant imprisonment, families being torn apart, torture, or even certain death.

The Algerians, in another true to life comparison, decided that the only way they could fight the French was through guerilla warfare -- sneak attacks, bombs planted in strategic locations, snipers firing from windows. The had to do this because they were so outnumbered and outgunned. The French wanted to save face, and also to use their colonies because of hard economic times at home, and a public loss of a large colony would make them look bad to the rest of the world.