The Battle of Algiers (1966)
A surprisingly unbiased account of the bloodiest revolution in modern history. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Gillo Pontecorvo
Written By: Gillo Pontecorvo, Franco Solinas
Starring: Jean Martin, Omar, Yacef Saadi, Ugo Paletti, Fusia El Kader, Brahim Hadjadj, Tommaso Neri, Samia Kerbash, Mohamed Ben Kassen
AKA: La Battaglia di Algeri
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The Battle of Algiers belongs to 132 collections
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Browse the full list of collections
| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 10 |  |
Alex Watkins | 5 91st |
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One of the most politically charged and emotionally involving films I've ever seen. Pontecorvo displays a mixture of technical mastery and storytelling prowess, treading a fine line that never goes for cheap sentiment or broad generalizations but doesn't understate the seriousness of the situation, either. The effect is incredibly powerful and makes The Battle of Algiers one of the greatest films, war or otherwise, of all-time.
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| 9 |  |
Magb | 95 94th |
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I find it strange how many people are saying that this film is "even-handed" and that Pontecorvo isn't choosing sides. It seems pretty clear to me that while the insurgents are shown as doing some awful things, the film is clearly siding with the Algerians. As well it should, if you ask me. I suppose what people mean by even-handed is that it doesn't needlessly demonize specific persons like a film like, say, Schindler's List does. Instead it looks at the broader conflict.
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| 8 |  |
Farzan | 99 99th |
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The Battle of Algiers is one of the most well made films ever, plain and simple. Pontecorvo's direction is nearly flawless, the acting from the non-professional actors are nearly flawless, lets just say this is a near flawless masterpiece. The fact that Pontecorvo made a film about one of the bloodiest revolutions in history, and made it unbiased is rather original, especially considering when it was made. The Battle of Algiers is extremely relevant today, and is a must see.
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| 7 |  |
Shmendrek | 6 99th |
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It never takes the easy way out. Pontecorvo never forces you to pick a side, and even though it's clear who he sympathizes with, he presents this as the complicated and tragic story it is.
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| 6 |  |
Mentaculus | 100 99th |
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This is just one of those films that open-palms you in the throat and leaves you gasping for air, then kicks your perceptions while they're in the fetal position on the ground recovering. Viscerally and politically audacious with a firm, opinionated, but worldly view of the human condition. That it is iconoclastic precisely because it doesn't pander is equally bold and frightening.
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| 6 |  |
omgfridge | 9 92nd |
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No other word to describe this but flawless. Everything about this is incredible. Pontecorvo doesn't point any fingers which makes it more remarkable as at times it could be mistaken for a documentary. Still it remained compelling all the way through.
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| 5 |  |
cagedwisdom | 25 17th |
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I don't know if it was because I wasn't paying enough attention, because I didn't know/care about the source material or what, but this didn't feel remotely involving. By the end I still didn't know who I was supposed to be siding with. I ended up siding with the cops seeing as the other guys were blowing up random people which is hard to approve of. I'm fairly certain this wasn't the movie's intention. It's hard to feel involved when you can't take a clear stance on the issue.
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| 4 |  |
frederic_g54 | 9 90th |
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Pontecorvo never picks a side and rules out any form of emotional involvement. Technically, it's a bold and fascinating directorial achievement but one wishes for something more.
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| 4 |  |
Bmunise | 97 91st |
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A wonderful film in which virtually every act is violently regrettable.
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| 4 |  |
ZayanK | 97 97th |
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Incredibly intense political film about two sides of a coin who are both right and wrong at the same time. If there's got to be an essential film about the inherent contradictions of colonialism this is the one. Perhaps the only thing missing here for me is the side of the Arab loyalists, who stood with the French until the end. That would have made the film even more interesting imho.
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| 4 |  |
billkerwin | 96 96th |
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Must see for all of us who live in this age of terror, occupation and empire.
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| 4 |  |
juntakinte99 | 97 93rd |
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The most visceral film I've ever seen. With most films I look back to understand why they had an initial emotional impact on me. It could be the story, performances, or technical construction. But here, Pontecorvo's docudrama approach almost defies analysis as he creates an immersive world that embeds you with the characters. It's obvious why years later this film has been an influence not just on countless political thrillers (Children of Men, Selma), but actual worldwide social movements.
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| 4 |  |
backwardsuit | 84 88th |
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Good gritty film about the escalating tactics of a modern revolution. Made great by its imposing relevance not only for political history but also for the history of western depictions of war on film. It's the kind of movie that is virtually inseparable from its real world context & thus hard to rate on its own merits. Its rough documentary-style look at a moment of modern insurgency warfare is impressive & sobering by any measure although the perspective it offers beyond that is very limited.
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| 4 |  |
dardan | 85 89th |
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"Former dir. of American counter-terrorism operations under Presidents Clinton and Bush: "When colleagues asked me what to read to understand the problem after 9/11, I instead urged them to get an old film, The Battle of Algiers. In it, French authorities round up all the known terrorist managers but lose the war because they did not address the ideological underpinnings" TBoA was used by the IRA and other organizations as educational material. nssa.us/journals/2007-29-1/2007-29-1-25.htm
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| 3 |  |
eveelun | 91 98th |
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An excellent dramatization of a turbulent and complicated political situation. The film manages to effectively present the perspectives of both sides (including all the underlying moral ambiguities) and has an absolutely wonderful realist style that infuses the film with a dynamic energy. A truly compelling watch.
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| 3 |  |
djross | 78 89th |
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Effective anti-colonialist film that strives for a degree of political complexity as well as some cinematic sophistication, factors that lift it above the norm for this type of thing. Viewing this in 2011, it remains as relevant in the post-colonial context as it was in the 1960s, and for a number of reasons.
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| 3 |  |
Pickpocket | 9 93rd |
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A must see. Incredible.
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| 3 |  |
TheDiceman | 90 99th |
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Awesome.
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| 3 |  |
Nathan S | 4 74th |
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Pontecorvo's is a unique and still-relevant war film, shot with a fierce, no-nonsense realization of the viscera of occupation and insurgency. I actually find its sobriety a little hard to stomach at times.
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| 3 |  |
TedDedon | 88 81st |
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What shockey said
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| 3 |  |
td888 | 80 89th |
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It's scary how relevant this is still today (2014). History will always repeat itself. A must see.
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| 3 |  |
Icarus | 97 97th |
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Pontecorvo fills his humanistic account of the Algerian war for independence with faces, faces of Algerians and faces of French, faces moving through the tangled streets of Algiers. This stylistic choice serves as a strong reminder not to get caught up in the simple action of the story, but rather to remember the human cost of oppression and revolution. The film's complexity deepens with each successive viewing, a testament to its openness and its avoidance of simple polemics.
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| 3 |  |
nandorizzi | 85 88th |
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The whole film has an incredible air of authenticity and an amazing historical process, with scenes and phrases just memorable.
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| 3 |  |
KasperL | 90 97th |
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These days, a film needs 25.000 IMDb votes to be included in the site's Top 250... which means 'The Battle of Algiers' is currently off the list. But it is an accessible and intense classic that everyone should watch.
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| 3 |  |
rthornhill | 95 93rd |
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I really enjoyed this film. I didn't know anything about the history of this revolution, so watching this was quite informative for me. The DVD also has alot of interesting bonus material. Recommended highly.
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| 3 |  |
Der_Barney | 90 96th |
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Others have summed this up quite nicely already, but I would like to add that some of the points that remain relevant to this day are not only the old adage that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, but also that without a political struggle and a civil uprising, all the killing is useless.
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| 3 | slwee | 79 71st |
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An engaging film on the NLF's struggle for independence in Algeria during the 1950s. A classic and must-see for students of insurgencies and irregular warfare.
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| 3 |  |
Jeb | 97 90th |
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Farzan's review pretty much sums it all up....
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| 3 |  |
Stradivarius | 97 98th |
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Nothing quite like it came before or since.
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| 3 |  |
oskarhu | 91 97th |
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As a film of political history, this is maybe the best I've seen. The details in the action, in the acting and in the atmosphere is wonderful. The cinematography creates suspense and it feels very real. The portrayal of both sides of the battle is done with precision, giving an authentic feel to the understanding of the ordeal through this movie.
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| 3 | CajoleJuice | 95 96th |
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A movie that 50 years later is all too relevant. Gripping, heartbreaking, terrifying, uplifting. The documentary style is pulled off masterfully (without the now ubiquitous shaky-cam), immersing you in a revolution and the attempt to quash it. Required viewing for all imperialists/colonialists.
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| 3 |  |
yesistasty | 90 71st |
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This movie is what all political movies should aspire to. It is coldly apolitical while being deeply invested in the events it covers at the same time.
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| 3 |  |
timoA | 96 98th |
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A film delivered like a punch in your stomach.
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| 3 |  |
overrated | 95 99th |
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I find it morbidly funny that after reading up about the 'Staircase to Terror' theory that most of this film takes place on them. Such an analogy can just as easily be applied to governments: despite displaying reason the French are clearly the villains here. Torture becomes rationalized, as does collateral damage. Need I spell out any recent parallels?
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| 3 |  |
Valenzetti | 95 96th |
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"They want us out, and we want to stay." Many scenes are eerily familiar, now. It is admirably even-handed, and by even-handed I mean that it doesn't fall back on hyperbole and demonization (unlike so much of contemporary media). Morricone's score is haunting. One of the few films I've seen in the faux-newsreel style that doesn't come across as manipulative in its use of it.
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| 3 |  |
Bunken | 90 96th |
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Well crafted film from Pontecorvo who smoothly switches between film and documentary style, never taking sides in the brutal battle for the city of Algier. You never sympathise with any of the characters and that works out well, cause instead you get a thrilling and unsentimental account of the bloody revolution. Watch this over Hors la loi any day, cause even if you dont know anything about the conflict it doesnt matter since its quite educational as well...
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| 3 |  |
Obidy | 9 71st |
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Movies today often strive for "grit" and "realism," which usually translates to desaturated colors and an epileptic cameraman. The Battle of Algiers, on the other hand, could only be more real if it were a documentary. It deals with an ugly struggle for independence in an evenhanded and brutally honest way. This came out only a few years after Algeria gained its independence, and it shows.
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| 3 |  |
homosuperior | 90 91st |
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Nearly as immediate & gripping as real-time war reporting, Gillo Pontecorvo's docudrama about the struggle for Algerian independence from France manages a fair bit of exciting storytelling combined with a balanced & clear-eyed account of atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict. Essential viewing.
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| 3 | damil | 80 90th |
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I knew pretty much nothing about the Algerian War before seeing this film, but this didn't hinder my understanding or enjoyment of watching it. It was an excellent film, in pretty much every aspect. It contained another brilliant score from Ennio Morricone. They presented a very honest and relatable view of revolution in a country struggling to find its independence. It's a must-see.
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| 3 |  |
bof | 86 94th |
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European neo-realism thrown back in the occupiers' faces; the no-nonsense approach of the straightlaced war hero versus the chaotic, winding corridors of old Algiers. The new overturns the old, neither comes out looking like a winner.
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| 3 |  |
WalkenRoll | 95 98th |
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Harrowing, nerve shredding docu-drama sort of thing that doesn't take sides. Incredibly well made. The bombings and the subsequent aftermath look far too realistic...
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| 2 |  |
MartinTeller | 86 87th |
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Produced in a very convincing realistic style, quite compelling. Superb score by Morricone.
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| 2 |  |
Moribunny | 70 75th |
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What's really unique about this film is that Yacef Saadi, an actual FLN commander, not only stars but drafted the script, based on his propagandist memoir. The Italian filmmakers then drastically revised it to balance it out, but it still has a decidedly pro-insurgency slant. It's very well-filmed and interesting throughout, but like many straightforward war films, feels numb and lacking in depth. What little music it has, although penned by Morricone, only damages it.
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| 2 |  |
Kavu | 89 92nd |
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Nice directing and acting, beautiful cinematography and score and above all, well crafted and unbiased story.
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| 2 |  |
chow25 | 91 92nd |
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Amazingly relevant!
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| 2 |  |
CinematicESP | 87 75th |
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Great visual style. Compelling story. A lot more than I was expecting.
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| 2 |  |
rob | 17 94th |
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Incredible. I've always been interested in the Algerian war of independence, and this is as unbiased and informative an account as I can imagine.
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| 2 |  |
caiman | 86 82nd |
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This is a film that tells a true story of a violent point in history (what points in history AREN'T violent?), and it does so in broad strokes. The emotional core isn't in the lives of individuals, but in the overarching tumult and violence of another of history's bloody revolutions. The episodic documentary nature adds to the film's broad vision. I appreciate how Pontecorvo avoids making the French into faceless villains. As much as any historical piece can, this movie tells it like it is.
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| 2 |  |
saucyjack | 96 99th |
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Flawless picture that truly resonates in Dubya's torture-happy America.
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| 2 |  |
prowler | 59 58th |
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definitely a vital, Important film. where's the movie showing CIA torture tactics today? however, viewed purely as cinema, the faux-documentary style plays quite clunky and dated. wooden characters -- actually the one that seemed the most nuanced was the French colonel. Watch it for the historic element.
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| 2 |  |
darkman | 85 94th |
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Great documentation. Well-balanced portrayal of both sides in the conflict.
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| 2 |  |
msprague | 95 99th |
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Considering when it was made it feels quite ahead of its time and remarkable. The brutality of the colonial power desperately trying to hold on to the country while the people are ready for them to leave is eye-opening. You can see from this how the world powers haven't learned from past mistakes.
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| 2 |  |
torontodog | 95 97th |
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This is the war epic of our times. Insurgents vs. occupation. Not one of the dozens of Iraq movies they've made in the last few years is as current as this 40 year old masterpiece.
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| 2 |  |
hehejaja | 90 91st |
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Powerful.
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| 2 |  |
cinema_hell | 90 86th |
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A great cinematography. But I don't see those damn terrorists as heroes. And, of course, I'm also against a violent government opression.
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| 2 |  |
Luna6ix | 80 74th |
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this movie has some great filming/direction, but there was NO, i mean NO character devlopment, or in fact, main characters at all, it was just a sequence of events in the same city. i also have a certain feeling that the movie demonized the algerian arabs, while almost, but not quite glorifying the french, there wasnt anything that i picked up on directly, it was just a sort of subdued feel.
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| 2 |  |
drawkward86 | 86 69th |
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A universally acknowledged masterpiece, I know, but isn't it a bit sloppy? Stylistically very impressive, but you can feel it straining not to be a biopic, and the self-conscious decision to not make it a character piece makes some sections - esp. the final minutes - come out of nowhere; the loose ends have to be tied up by a hitherto absent narrator. Still a great film, though: gritty, ahead of its time, and still unique today; the flaws are a side-effect of an otherwise successful experiment.
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| 2 | tef | 85 75th |
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Ali la Pointe still lives!
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| 2 | pompousass | 60 85th |
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Pontecorvo's re-staging of the Algerian struggle for independence tries for a journalistic effect -- an historical epic in a newsreel idiom. But this effect really owes less to the grainy black-and-white image than to the selectivity of information, the slanting of same, and the editorializing. The cast -- well-chosen faces of frozen intensity -- is nonprofessional with one notable exception.
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| 2 | zaschell | 90 74th |
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A really quality movie that kind of blends nonfiction documentary with some individual stories acted out by pros. I found it interesting because of the complete lack of information that Americans are given on world events like this.
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| 2 |  |
wetwillies | 90 80th |
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Political cinema at its finest. Filming and presenting the action as if it were a documentary, director Gillo Pontecorvo succeeds in creating a raw and realistic portrait of a revolution. I also admire the relative lack of bias within this film. Particularly telling is that the deaths of Algerians are presented with the same amount of sadness as the deaths of the French.
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| 2 | Sprinklins | 88 50th |
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A testament to the ills of occupation.
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| 2 |  |
ehk2 | 100 99th |
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This is THE cinema! best thing I've seen up to now
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| 2 |  |
payens | 90 90th |
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The tragic moral dilemmas of a war/revolution exposed dramatically. Also, a powerful soundtrack by Morricone.
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| 2 |  |
redacted | 91 93rd |
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Almost a purely objective piece of film. There is rarely any emotion displayed between characters, most of their reasoning is based on ideals, or trying to apply logic to wartime events. The real emotion is found when you look at the two masses of people as a collective persona. The colonialist pragmatism and the revolutionaries passion both swelling and diminishing during the tide of events. The art direction & the direction stand out in depicting the urban chessboard that was Algiers.
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| 2 |  |
Noblet | 86 87th |
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The way the movie was shot combined with the time it was made makes all the action look like real footage. I liked that while the movie tended to side with the rebels, it didn't hesitate to show them doing awful things. An overall excellent look into modern warfare that resonates just as well today as it did when it was released.
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| 2 |  |
SlantMag | 40 97th |
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"The film establishes a kinetic documentary effect, making the impact of every shoot-out and explosion a deeply personal experience." - Glenn Heath Jr.
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| 2 |  |
loc42 | 65 47th |
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Yes it is a very successful film in depicting the resistance and social movements as inevitable historical phenomena stemming from a nation as a whole, in that sense sometimes people lose their individual faces in the pixels of the movie. However, contentwise it's too agitative and cliche for me. Would it be respected more than Casavettes' worst movie if it was not about Algerian independence war?
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| 2 |  |
mattorama12 | 81 90th |
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Really harrowing, and absolutely fascinating in its even-handedness. I knew nothing of the revolution before, so it was definitely a great history lesson as well. If I could fault the film, it would only be in a lack of artistry in the film-making itself. Its documentary-feel is perhaps an asset, but it also makes it somewhat less enjoyable than it otherwise might have been.
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| 2 |  |
BadCosmonaut | 9 98th |
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war in the streets
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| 2 |  |
Chronicler | 100 95th |
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A masterpiece of a film that was able to show an unbiased look at the bloody revolt in French Algeria. This film is gorgeously shot and framed, the acting is top notch, particularly since some of the actors weren't professional actors. It's still very relevant today some 47 years since it's original release to the point where it was used as a educational tool for the US military leading up to the Iraq War. A must see for film fans, history buffs and political junkies.
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| 2 |  |
deep_green | 90 97th |
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Well paced, fantastic music and editing. Just superb.
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| 2 |  |
Monisit | 96 92nd |
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Sometimes it's really hard to forget that this was a film dramatization of a terrible war that was made in 1966 and not a documentary that captures how ugly and brutal war could be. Pacing could be a bit more tight, and the music choice could just be a bit better, but the brutality and realism of what is presented makes it more than worth it.
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| 2 | Pickle_Man | 100 94th |
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A highly political movie based on true events that's not self-important mawkish oscar-baiting trash. I didn't know those existed. Rant aside, the realist style works exceptionally well with the impartial presentation and gives a strong sense of objective, almost documentary, accuracy.
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| 1 |  |
Dorkovsky | 4 41st |
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I've watched this twice and just can't get into it...
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| 1 |  |
parcaliham | 90 88th |
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nisan 2012, ist film fest & '66 yapimi Cezayir Savasi'ni #istfilmfest12 'de izlemenin anlami buyuktu. Emperyalizm ve fasizmin 46 yilda hic degismedigini gorduk. Film, aklima Camus'nun 'Dogrular' adli tiyatro oyununda sordugu soruyu getirdi; 'Eger devrim kanliysa, devrim sonrasi toplum hangi insancil temele kurulacak?' Filmi izlerken aklima turkiyenin guncel sorunu olan kurt sorunu geldi ki, bu da filmin ne kadar gercek, guncel oldugunun kanitidir.
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| 1 |  |
Stain | 90 86th |
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Very, very realistic movie about the guerrilla war in Algeria for independence. It's been used as a training film by guerrilas and counterinsurgents alike
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| 1 | sellis | 90 87th |
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A look at colonialism through an anthropological lens. The first time I watched this it didn't leave much of an impression. Ten years later, it feels like one of those tales at once so specific and detailed that it could relate to one of many real life scenarios. The final few minutes sent my skin to flames like no other. Morricone's score is a rabid beast. Some of the most fluid, powerful editing I can recall.
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| 1 |  |
Calexico | 95 97th |
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Expertly made, very powerful and inspiring.
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| 1 |  |
iyisinek | 80 85th |
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cezayir bagimsizlik savasi, terorizm, sokak catismalari, fransa, cezayir, grev, asker, (cezayirli gerillalarin silahli mücadelesini anlatiyor. ilk yöntem kendi yasalari koymak ve uygulamak, taraftar kazanmak ve karsi olanlari belirlemek. uyusturucu ve fuhus yasagi. ikinci yöntem medeni kanun uygulamasi; evlilik düzenlemek. üc sialahli saldirilar; polisleri öldürmek, fransizlarin bomba patlatmasi üzerine ayni sekilde karsilik verilmesi. dört; toplu grev... tüm gerilla liderleri yakalanir.
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| 1 |  |
mrmoc | 87 62nd |
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the key opened the door of freedom to algerians were not leftist revolutionist terror tactics, but civil rebellion.
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| 1 |  |
eCitizen | 80 83rd |
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It is amazing how this account parallels so many modern day events. A look at a Algerian revolution from the point of view of the oppressed as well as the oppressors. Foreign colonialism versus the peoples right to govern themselves leads to terrorism and bloody insurrections at the cost of so many innocent lives. This movie fails to show the true scope of the violence perpetrated by both sides. It's really sad that there isn't a better way to accomplish these things without so many deaths.
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| 1 |  |
hotsake | 78 89th |
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The movie was captivating and intense, had a great score, the acting was solid but there was no character development or character depth and that hurt the film more than anything else.
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| 1 |  |
NBD Rab | 85 81st |
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I'm shocked and awed that this film was made in 1966. The action and crowd scenes are surprisingly realistic, and the cinematography is truly inspired. Neither the colonists nor the insurgents are treated as righteous heroes, making this deeper and more mature than nearly any modern tale of revolution.
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| 1 |  |
Yiannos | 63 53rd |
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A Neo-Realist style treatment of the conflict at Algiers, The Battle of Algiers is highly reminiscent of Rossellini's war trilogy, merging a visceral, somewhat detached perspective on events with a strong political critique. Knowledge of the French-Algerian conflict is probably necessary to fully appreciate it, and perhaps my ignorance on the subject prevented me from seeing its greatness. The torture sequence was effective though, and the random acts of violence are chillingly realistic.
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| 1 |  |
radumsmn | 82 92nd |
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People should know when they are conquered or something like that.
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| 1 | sourheart | 5 95th |
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History on Film.
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| 1 |  |
Ceekay19 | 70 55th |
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Ben M'Hidi: "It's hard to start a revolution. Even harder to continue it. And hardest of all to win it. But, it's only afterwards, when we have won, that the true difficulties begin. In short, Ali, there's still much to do."
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| 1 |  |
JonnyHalftab | 90 90th |
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Lt Col Mathieu has the second most intimidating sunglasses ever behind only the sheriff's cartoonish glaciers in O' Brother, Where Art Thou
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| 1 | Cercle_Rouge | 94 99th |
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I thought this was going to be a film I would respect rather than enjoy, but it is absolutely stunning: exciting, fast-paced, intelligent, moving - the best film about urban guerilla warfare I've ever seen, and perhaps the best war film. It is evenhanded but you are clearly led to sympathise with the 'terrorists'.
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| Average Percentile 78.8% from 1862 Ratings |  |