Londons Falling

A Masterpiece Of Modern Cinema Torn From Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow's Headlines

Rating: 5/5
Comments:
Algiers, French Algeria, 1956: Algeria has existed under French colonial rule for one hundred and thirty years, the impoverished Arab occupants of the city of Algiers living predominantly within the gentrified Casbah region of the city. In the Spring of 1956, Larbi Ben M'Hidi's ideologically Islamic FLN party begins waging a concerted Guerilla war of aggression against French colonial power. It begins with the murder of French police, military and officials on the streets, but then escalates into widespread destruction as French frequented Cafes, Milk Bars and Airlines are targeted by FLN bombers (in response to the ruthless bombing of a suspected FLN assassin by a vigilante element within the French authorities). As the violence escalates, the Tenth Airborne division of the French army, commanded by Philippe Mathieu, a distinguished World War Two veteran, are tasked with quelling the insurgency and restoring order to the streets of Algiers. A task which they undertake with devastating ruthlessness and frightening efficiency...

Despite being over forty three years old, Gillo Pontecorvo's, "The Battle Of Algiers" remains one of the most devastatingly relevant films ever made. Shot in nascent neo-realist, verite style which recalls Rossellini (Pontecorvo quit his job as a journalist and became a film-maker after experiencing an epiphany following a viewing of Rossellin's "Paisan") and adapted from a book by FLN leader Saadi Yacef (who also appears in the film as FLN commando, `Jaffar'), it is quite simply timeless. The political radicalisation of Ali La Pointe, a young, unemployed, illiterate labourer who becomes a violent zealot (or `freedom fighter', depending on your point of view) after being robbed of a future and left to rot in the Casbah, is a story which one has seen repeated in the biographies of numerous terrorist paramilitaries who have menaced the world throughout the twentieth and twenty first centuries. Similarly, it is impossible to watch the harrowing scenes of French nationals being bombed in Cafes and the Gendarmerie being gunned down in the streets without recalling the terrorist campaigns of any number of 'revolutionary armies' from the PLO through to the IRA. Accordingly, the haunting spectacle of Algerian nationals being by tortured French Paratroopers in order to gather intelligence on FLN leaders recalls the horrifying spectre of Abu Ghraib prison.

"The Battle Of Algiers" is a film that demands to be seen - not only because is it one of the greatest films ever made, but also because, in microcosm, it is the recurrent story of the second half of the twentieth century.

"Should we remain in Algeria? If you answer "yes," then you must accept all the necessary consequences."

Rating: 5/5
Comments:
Filmed with many of the actual participants in the sixties when the old values came crashing down as the students rushed to the barricades and revolution was sexy, Battle of Algiers, while still undeniably great film-making, has become a very different film since the decade of rebellion. Indeed, it seems to become a different film every decade: not only have people's revolutions such as Iran resulted in repressive fundamentalist dictatorships where human rights are ignored and rape victims are executed alongside their rapists, but once again foreign troops occupy Arab countries imposing their idea of civilisation on an unwilling population. As a result, the film takes on a very different perspective almost every time you see it, challenging your preconceptions each time.

Dedicated to the people of Algiers, it is more an account of the rise and fall of the Algerian Liberation Front (FLN) between 1954-7 than the popular resistance to the French occupation, following their strategies and the response of the increasingly militarised French. The country's genuine revolution and liberation in 1962 is dealt with almost as an afterthought in the film's epilogue.

With the visual authenticity of a newsreel, the lean construction of a documentary and a gripping immediacy to many of its scenes, the film is fairly even handed in its treatment of the outrages on both sides, but never allows either side to justify or even explain itself. Only in the UN's habitual cowardice in refusing to take a stand on the issue is the reason for the escalation in violence, rather than the ideology that drives it, made apparent.

Certainly, for all the rightness of their cause, the FLN's methods are, by necessity, so brutal and dictatorial that automatic sympathy for them is out of the question. They rule by fear, clearing (translation: driving out or murdering) the Casbah of prostitutes, junkies and crooks not for any moral reason but to ensure a safe hideout. The petty criminal turned freedom fighter 'hero' machine-guns the man who raised him because he will not help the party; a woman leaves a bomb in a milk bar with children in it without a trace of conscience or remorse; passers-by are machine-gunned from a speeding ambulance. So lacking in pity or simple human decency are they and so callous is their disregard for human life that it is almost impossible not to hold them in contempt while still supporting the principle their fight for freedom - this is a film that doesn't romanticise the moral price at which that freedom is bought. Nor, more surprisingly still, does it demonise the French (many themselves veterans of the French resistance to occupation of their own country during WW2) and their response. It's almost as if the film is challenging you to hate its heroes and sympathise with its villains while at times lucidly explaining why both sides are driven to such desperate measures. It's something a filmmaker as relentlessly partisan as Ken Loach would never have the guts to attempt or the skill to pull off.

Certainly it is one of the ironies of time and hindsight that whereas in 1965 the French were so obviously the undisputed villains of the piece that the film was banned in France, now their actions seem, if not morally justifiable, at least understandable. Fighting an unseen enemy hiding behind the civilian population, with each member knowing only three others in the organisation, the French cannot find them because even they do not know who or where they are. Afraid of another Dien Bien Phu and faced with a lack of political will by their government, you understand why the French paratroops resort to torture as their only means of gaining information in the face of increasing outrages aimed indiscriminately at the civilian population. It's all part of a desperately escalating series of immoral outrages on both sides, with the occupiers never understanding why it's their atrocities that draw more public outrage than those they're fighting against - at one point, the French Colonel is moved to wonder "Why are the Sartres always on the other side?" on learning of the popular support for the FLN among the left-wing intellectuals, a sentiment that still holds true of the military and political mindset that looks upon rebellion and terrorism as a purely logistical and tactical problem today. The film was screened at the Pentagon in 2003 and it's clear that they saw nothing in it but tactics.

This pragmatic loss of ordinary standards of decency is inherent in the film: even though Pontecorvo shows the reasons for the atrocities on both sides, that doesn't undermine the savagery of the acts themselves. Interestingly, the film's trailer adds voice-over from many of the participants explaining their motivations more clearly than the film itself, but in many ways the film really reflects the point of co-producer and real life senior FLN figure Yacef Saadi's original book - not a handbook or a celebration so much as a explanation of just why pity had to quickly fall by the wayside on both sides. The success of the film is that it doesn't feel the need to mitigate any of its protagonists actions with comforting emotional outlets or devices to add sympathy and point the audience, whether it's the girl in the milkbar or the French colonel who can publicly admire one of the rebels at a press conference before (by implication) arranging his suicide in his cells because he recognises he's still a danger even in captivity. It's a rare unflinching portrait of revolution in all its ugliness and moral vacuity (rather than ambiguity) where the object becomes all-consuming and all-destroying on both sides. Yacef Saadi's final small victory isn't military - it was the people themselves who won their freedom rather than their self-proclaimed champions - it's that he finally sees beyond the kind of empty nihilistic gestures that leads others to pointlessly martyr themselves. It's a human reaction and one that puts life - even if it is only his own - and the hope for change that life still carries first, yet Pontecorvo never overstates it.

It's not a film that gives easy answers or clear cut heroes and villains, and Criterion's superlative 3-disc NTSC DVD set more than amply addresses the moral contradictions in a truly impressive array of supplements that look at the film in a post-9/11 light. You can hardly move for documentaries both on the film itself and its influence - Gillo Pontecorvo - The Dictatorship of Truth, Marxist Poetry - The Making of The Battle of Algiers and Five Directors - and the history and aftermath of the revolution - Remembering History, The Battle of Algiers - A Case Study and Gillo Pontecorvo's Return to Algiers - as well as a 28-minute extract from documentary Etats d'Armes in which French soldiers talk about the use of torture in the war. Throw in a couple of trailers, a 54-page booklet and an excellent transfer and it's one of the finest releases Criterion ever put out.

Definitely in the top 5 of Criterion single-film releases! "The Battle of Algiers" is fantastic!

Rating: 5/5
Comments:
It was 1966 when the film "The Battle of Algiers" (La battaglia di Algeri) was released to the masses. A war film about the war in Algiers covering what took place between November 1954 through December 1960, during the Algerian War of Independence and director Gillo Pontecorvo covered both sides between the Muslim Algerians fighting for Independence and the French who were fighting against terrorism. The film is regarded as an important classic and is Pontecorvo's masterpiece. The film won the Venice Film Festival Grand Prize, nominated for three Academy Awards for "Best Screenplay", "Best Director" and "Best Foreign Language Film".

The film gained notoriety as it had the reputation for inspiring political violence and tactics from the film were copied by the Black Panthers and Provisional Irish Republican Army. The film was banned in France for five years and the original American and British releases cut any scenes involving the French torture of Muslim Algerians.

But the film was also looked at as useful for training as the film was shown as part of counter-insurgency classes in the 60's. Shown in Israel by the Left-Wing to show that Israel's occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip was futile. And in 2003, the film was screened at the Pentagon with a flier for the screening being circulated as "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 fervor. Sound familiar? The French have a plan. It succeeds tactically, but fails strategically. To understand why, come to a rare showing of this film."

For years, people only had access to pirated copies of the film and censored versions until restoration was done in 1999 and was obtained by Rialto Pictures for distribution. The Criterion Collection released "The Battle of Algiers" with a special 3-disc DVD set (released back in 2004) that is to say the least, is fantastic and possibly one of the most complete, in-depth Criterion releases I have yet seen to date. It's important to note that in this film, there were no news or documentary footage used in the making of the film. The mass crowds and everything you seen for the film was shot by Pontecorvo and crew.

The significance of director Gillo Pontecorvo's "The Battle of Algiers" is that it was released in theaters three years after the Algerian war where tensions were still strong, Pontecorvo's ability to recreate situations that transpired during 1954-1962 and most importantly, to have one of the largest mass crowds used in a film. It's relevance today is because in this film we see children becoming soldiers, innocent Muslims who had nothing to do with destruction being targeted by civilians, women dressed as normal citizens planting bombs in civilian areas such as cafe's and dance clubs but also the French soldiers who rounded up people they believe were insurgents and tortured them. Pontecorvo wanted to show the perspective from both sides of the war. The side of the Muslim Algerians who fought for their independence and had enough of their people being killed or held by French authorities and on the French side, the civilians rooting for the military trying to stop the violence brought by the Muslim terrorists.

To say the least, the film is quite epic and what was accomplished by Pontecorvo is amazing and what the Criterion Collection was able to do with this DVD release is simply fantastic!

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"The Battle of Algiers" is presented in black and white with an aspect ratio of 1:85:1. According to the Criterion Collection, the film is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio and was supervised by director of photography, Marcello Gatti. The new HD transfer was created on C-Reality from a 35mm restored fine-grain master positive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System. The blacks are nice and deep and although there are scenes that are high in grain, the picture quality for this 40+ year-old film is fantastic.

As for the audio, the audio is presented in Dolby Digital mono. According to Criterion, the soundtrack was mastered at 24-bit from a 35mm optical print track and audio restoration tools were used to reduce clicks, pops, hiss and crackle. The film is center channel driven but I chose to have my receiver set the audio for stereo on all channels, which I found to be fantastic for those with a 5.1 or 7.2 or higher setup. Audio is presented in French and Arabic.

Subtitles are in English and subtitles are nice and clear with a black stroke around the character type.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"The Battle of Algiers" contains the following special features:

Disc 1:

* Production Gallery- A collection of production stills of the cast and crew at work in Algiers and the Casbah. Also, included are posters and lobby cards promoting the international release of "The Battle of Algiers".
* Theatrical Trailers - Featuring the original 1966 theatrical trailer (4:00) and the 2004 Rialto Pictures re-release trailer (2:23).

Disc 2:

* Gillo Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth - (37:30) A 1992 documentary presented by the late literary critic Edward Said about Gillo Pontecorvo's life and film career, what he accomplished with "The Battle of the Algiers". From his earlier years heading a resistance in Northern Italy to his approach on filmmaking. Also, interesting tidbits on his work on other films especially the difficulty of working with Marlon Brando for the film "Burn" and more.
* Marxist Poetry: The Making of the Battle of Algiers - (51:19) Pontecorvo biographer Irene Bignardi with the help of Pontecorvo, producer and actor Saadi Yacef, cinematographer Marcello Gatti, composer Ennio Morricone and actor Jean Martin, Editor Mario Morricone and film critic Tullio Kezich recall the development, production and release of "The Battle of Algiers". Discussion how Pontecorvo was a perfectionist and would do 50 takes of one line and discussion of scenes that the director and crew went to make it look believable onscreen and more.
* Five Directors - (17:16) A featurette featuring directors Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Julian Schnabel, Oliver Stone and Steven Soderbergh discussing the film's influence, style and importance. Also, the discussion if the film was a balanced perspective by Pontecorvo and if a film like "The Battle of Algiers" can be made today.

Disc 3:

* Remembering History - (1:08:47) A 2004 documentary that reconstructs the Algerian experience of the battle for independence. Featuring interviews with historians and revolutionaries including military leader Saadi Yacef.
* Etats d'armes - (28:24) A 2002 documentary from part 3 of Patrick Rotman's "L'Ennemi Intime" featuring senior French military officers recalling the use of torture and execution to combat the rebellion.
* The Battle of Algiers: A Case Study - (24:32) In this 2004 documentary features Richard A. Clarke, author and former national counter-terrorism coordinator discussing the film's relevance with Michael A. Sheehan, former State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism, in a conversation moderated by Christopher E. Isham, chief of investigative projects for ABC News.
* Gillo Pontecorvo's Return to Algiers - (58:05) In this 1992 episode of Italian TV program "Mixer", the show covers Pontecorvo's return to Algiers, three decades after its independence but also the turbulence in the country which includes the assassination of Algerian President Mohamed Boudiaf, the frustration of the Algerian people and the meeting of Pontecorvo between Boudiaf three days before his assassination.

Also, included is a 58-page booklet, which includes Peter Matthews essay "The Battle of Algiers: Bombs and Boomerangs", an excerpt from Saadi Yacef's book "Souvenirs de la bataille d'Alger". Also, included is the following scene from the original screenplay by Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas and the close relationship with Saadi Yacef's experience, an interview with Franco Solinas by PierNico Solinas which includes the original scenario of "The Battle of Algiers". The booklet also includes selected biographies from participants in the French-Algerian War by Arun Kapil.

JUDGMENT CALL:

Prior to buying this set, one of the reasons that I held out was because I thought it was simply a DVD set that focused on violence and really, I didn't know if this was a film that I could get into.

Prior to watching "The Battle of Algiers", I had no knowledge of the French-Algerian war nor "The Battle of Algiers" but just reading from critics and cinemaphiles writing about how it's a must-see film but for years, I skipped over it because I simply was not in the mood to engage in a film about revolutions or terrorism because I see this on the daily news everyday.

But I decided that enough was enough, no more waiting and it was time to give the "The Battle of Algiers" a try and make the purchase. It took me about a week to go through this 3-DVD box set of "The Battle of the Algiers" and I have to say that this is one of the most complete, must-buy sets for those who are fans of Criterion Collection films. I found it to be absolutely gripping and its filmmaking and the various shots and the mass crowds that Pontecorvo was able to get on film is amazing. I have never seen any film like it in my life and to think that what was featured was without a use of a green or blue screen and any CG work is incredible.

But if anything, Pontecorvo's film is those type of films that makes you think... can you blame either side? No one is innocent in this film. Both sides have committed atrocities towards each other. But what is important is what The Criterion Collection has done for the viewer and that is include many supplements that are a half hour to more than an hour long and to absorb information coming from those who filmed the movie, those who were involved and incarcerated during the war, the French soldiers who were involved int he war and then to hear from other filmmakers of the importance of the film. This is a solid release! Again, this is a significant release that I'm really impressed with and I hope that the Criterion Collection considers this film for a Blu-ray re-release. "The Battle of Algiers" was relevant then as it is now. And as so many have told me once before and now I'm proud to say it now, The Criterion Collection's release of "The Battle of Algiers" is highly recommended!