The Battle of Algiers (1965) (AKA La
Battaglia di Algeri)
In these days of our new war against
Iraq, citizens of the US are beginning to feel more
and more like oppressors and fascists, whether they
are willing to admit it or not. "The Battle of Algiers,"
a French film from 1965, evokes this feeling as well.
And its similarities to the situation we Americans
find ourselves in now gives this 40 year old film
a sense of immediacy and relevance that is overwhelming.
Watching it is sometimes quite disquieting as it evokes
the images that are confronting us on the news currently
everyday. This "deja vu" in reverse, if you will,
leads on to feel doomed and pointedly underscores
the futility of war. This is a feeling that we, as
Americans in 2004, are reluctant to acknowledge.
It may not hurt to have some knowledge
of the conflict between France and Algiers in the
60's, but I don't think it is necessary. I certainly
didn't know anything at all about this "situation,"
this "war," and I was able to understand pretty completely
what was going on. Perhaps this is also because it
seems to reflect a cycle of escalated hostilities
between countries that has happened many, many times.
Filmmaker Gillo Pontecorvo, an Italian,
creates a film that seems very much related to the
New Wave films that were coming out of France at this
time. Using non-sync sound and probably shooting on
16mm film most of the time, the film also seems very
related to today's young super low-budg independent
films. This style may be a little irritating at times
as the film tends to not have many conversations taking
place and relies on narration and other means of exposing
information. But when dialogue does occur it seems
quite natural (even though it is also obviously looped)
and can be very mesmerizing. The key scene in the
entire film is a news conference with a French military
leader that is so eerily reminiscent of press showcases
that American military leaders like Norman Schwarzkopf
have put on it nearly seems like jaw- dropping prophecy.
Pontecorvo's images are often haunting.
The trailer for the film's 2004 rerelease informs
us that there is "not one frame of documentary or
newsreel footage." This seems almost unbelievable.
Pontecorvo recreates some street scenes with rebels
and protestors that seem too realistic to be recreations.
Some of the images here are simply stunning when viewed
in the context of recreations. Pontecorvo is amazing
at creating massive scenes with hundreds of extras
that are vibrant, bursting with energy and emotion,
and seem utterly authentic.
"The Battle of Algiers" is being
rereleased to theaters in America by Rialto because
its story and depictions seem so timely. Indeed, the
time is right. This is a film that makes you want
to take to the street in protest. This is a film that
shows us once again just how futile war really is.
Notes:
In French with subtitles.
The score was written by Pontecorvo
and Ennio Morricone.
First released in the US in 1967.
The rerelease of the film features newly mastered
prints with new translations of the dialogue for subtitles.
Viewed at a press sneak at the Dobie
in Austin in April of 2004.
