Schlacht um Algier

"How to win a battle against terrorism and lose the war of ideas." Remind you of something? Believe me, this isn’t a description of the situation at the moment in some Arab countries, but it’s a record of the rocky history of belligerent relations between France and Algeria. The strange thing about this is that an Italian stuck his oar in, not even four years after the events portrayed here. And why not, perhaps he has a useful outside perspective that we rarely find in French filmmakers so early on, if at all. Whether or not he managed to instill that perspective isn’t really so important (although the fact that screening was banned in France and the huge wave of controversy and discussion that the movie provoked all around the world indicates that he did). The important thing is that he created a wonderful reconstruction drama filmed documentary style - it’s true that we are watching the events retrospectively and not in real time, but it is completely obvious where Greengrass’ celebrated style seen in Bloody Sunday and United 93 originates. It’s probably no coincidence that this movie was made only one year after the foundations of this genre were laid by Capote in his book “In Cold Blood". The overall powerfulness of this is due also largely to the soundtrack that originated from collaboration between Pontecorvo and nobody less than the best world’s best composer, Ennio himself. It’s worth seeing The Battle of Algiers now more than any other time. It was below freezing yesterday and looks the same today. Brrr. And now I have shaken the chill off my spine by telling you how awful things are, I can calmly return to our politicians the petty little conflicts, to my cup of hot chocolate and to panicking about my dentist’s appointment today. Which is a lot more chilling than a cold day. (18.04.2008)

Legendary film about one of the last colonial wars, fought on both sides with extraordinary stubbornness. A notably political film in the spirit of the best traditions of Italian neorealism. The success of the film was not only attributed to the director, but also to the screenwriter Franco Solinas (a renowned writer). The film is processed using a documentary method to create the impression of an authentic documentary. One of the co-producers was the direct member of the Yacef Saadi uprising. (23.06.2006)

The film is greatly directed. There are moments when you are really not sure whether it is a fiction film or a documentary, but its conception simply didn't appeal to me that much. It is powerful, it is good, but it just didn't click with me. Perhaps it is also a bit due to the black and white aspect, which didn't enhance the impression for me that much. (25.05.2015)