In the first of a regular
column where we look at DVDs which may be of interest to socialists, we pick up
on a DVD reissue of the classic film, Battle of Algiers.
BATTLE OF ALGIERS (
La battaglia di Algeri) Dir: Gillo Pontecorvo.
Made in 1965/6 the film is set
in the city of Algiers and covers events surrounding the Algerian War of
Independence in the late 1950s.
This conflict marked the final days of Algeria as one of France’s most
prized colonies. The story concentrates on the recruitment and involvement of a
young radical in the ranks of the National Liberation Front (FLN), the main
organisation leading the fight against the French settlers. As the conflict
becomes bloodier, French paratroopers are sent in to crush the revolt in the
Casbah and root out the FLN. The
film doesn’t shy away from the brutal methods used by both sides, with the FLN
resorting to bombing bars and cafes and the French army to torture and
shootings. Indeed it goes out of its way to emphasize the human costs of the
conflict on the people involved.
However, this does not prevent the film from coming out firmly on the
side of the Algerian masses against their colonial oppressors. In the end it is
always important to understand the root cause of the bloodshed, the brutal hand
of Imperialism.
The film does make a point
of depicting the French army commander Lieutenant-Colonel Mathieu as a
strangely sympathic man who despises the politicians and wants them to
understand the level of violence required to achieve the aim of defeating the
FLN. Of course that does not stop
him from carrying out those acts of terror without a second thought. In the end although the FLN leadership
is either rounded up or killed, a coda to the film showing the people
demonstrating and rioting indicates that ultimately the game was up for the
French occupiers.
Needless to say the
parallels between the events depicted and the current situation in the Arab
world are somewhat striking to say the least. No wonder the US Pentagon organised a screening of the film
for staff in 2003 with the following advert: "How to win a battle against
terrorism and lose the war of ideas. Children shoot soldiers at point-blank
range. Women plant bombs in cafes. Soon the entire Arab population builds to a
mad fervour. Sound familiar? The French have a plan. It succeeds tactically,
but fails strategically. To understand why, come to a rare showing of this
film." Those involved with
the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan were especially advised to attend.
The film has often been described
as a documentary, But in fact everything you see was staged with professional
actors and amateurs (some of whom were involved in the real struggle), the
director used black and white photography and hand held cameras to give the
impression that you were watching actual events unfolding before your eyes, as
if it was being filmed by news reporters on the scene.
Despite being banned in
France for many years, the film picked up loads of awards and was nominated for
three Oscars. But ignore all that, this is a great political film – a great
film full stop – which every socialist should make a point of seeing.
Click here to watch the trailer on Youtube
DVD: Argent Films have just
re-released a DVD of the film struck from a top-notch 16:9 print with some
extra footage restored to the film. Looking at the timings, this only amounts
to just under a minute but nevertheless this is the best the film is likely to
ever look given its age. A couple of short interviews and a photo gallery round
otf the extras. Of course, this can’t compare to the tremendous US Criterion
edition from a few years back which included 2 extra discs of extras, covering
the film and the conflict, and a thin paperback book to boot. Still, after a
few years when the first UK DVD was out of print, it is great to have this film
available again and you should grab it whilst you can.
