The Battle of Algiers

Italic textThe Battle of AlgiersItalic text was a feature film by Gilles Pontecorvo in 1965. It recieved the Golden Lion award in 1966.

Filmed in a dramatic Cinema Verite form, it is a dramatic reenactment of the events of Fall 1956 to Summer 1957 in Algiers during the Algerian war for independence, from the organization of revolutionary cells in the Casbah, through the initial bombing and terror campaigns by both revolutionaries and colonial vigilantes, the introduction of French airborne troops in January and subsequent general strike, to the subsequent breaking of the strike and largely successful counterinsurgency campaign. The film ends with a montage depicting the eventual victory of the insurgents.

Although the film was based on actual events, it made use of composite characters and changed the names of certain historical figures. For instance Jacques Massu, the military commander of the counterinsurgency campaign, was called "General Mathieu" in the film.

Athough reviewers commended the film for a relatively even-handed portrayal of combatants on both sides, Pontecorvo, a member of the Italian Communist Party, openly voiced sympathy for the Algerian struggle, and the film was banned in France for several years. In 1971, Massu wrote a book challenging its portrayal of events. In any case, the film was heralded by reviewers as a highly realistic portrayal of the causes and consequenses of terrorism and conterinsurgency war.

Since the film's original release and subsequent screenings during the Vietnam confilct, it faded into obscurity. However, since the events of September 11, 2001 and the United States invasion of Iraq, interest in the film was renewed after the US Directorate for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict screened the film at the Pentagon for a select audience and discussion in 2003. The film enjoyed a subsequent widespread public release.