The Battle of Algiers (1966)

In the dust-choked streets of Algiers in 1954, a simmering cauldron of conflict reaches boiling point. The National Liberation Front (NLF) of Algiers, driven by a desperate desire for freedom, ignites the fight for independence with a series of targeted attacks against French policemen. As a chilling response, the ruthless Chief of Police reciprocates with a devastating bomb attack in the Arab quarter, casting a grim shadow of death over its inhabitants. The Battle of Algiers, a riveting narrative commissioned by the Algerian government, presents the gritty reality of revolution from both sides of the trench. Fresh from a humbling defeat in Vietnam, the French Foreign Legion arrives, their pride battered and a point to prove. Their brutal tactics, including the use of torture, are led by the iron-fisted Colonel Mathieu, a man who dismisses human rights as superfluous in his determined pursuit of victory. In the face of this ruthless oppression, the NLF responds with an audacious plan. Three women, armed with deadly weapons, infiltrate the bustling European quarter, leaving a trail of destruction in two bars and the Air France office. This juxtaposition of the French's cruel tortures against the Algerian's use of bombs in soda shops offers a harrowing examination of war's corrosive impact, tainting everyone ensnared in its deadly grasp. Ultimately, this is a raw and unflinching exploration of the struggle for independence. It takes us through the labyrinthine streets of Algiers, from the smoky bars of the European quarter to the densely populated Arab district, sketching a vivid portrait of a city embroiled in conflict. The Battle of Algiers is a sobering testament to the human cost of war and the relentless pursuit of freedom, culminating in the hard-fought triumph of Algerian independence in 1962. Through the smoke and rubble, the spirit of Algiers rises, forever unbroken.

The Battle of Algiers is a drama movie featuring Brahim Hadjadj and directed by Gillo Pontecorvo.

The Battle of Algiers is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

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