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Battle of Algiers

It is a struggle to liberate a country and that is what the movie Battle of Algiers is all

about. It takes task forces of men and women who are determined to make sure that the resources

of their country do not go back to the colonial countries. It is imperative to note that such

sacrifices should not be taken for granted and that is why they create history. Such a movie is

influential showing the struggle that a country like Algeria went through before they-self

governed them-selves from France. The movie also is important in making individuals

understand their history and political events that made a country.

The movie comprises events that took place in Algeria when some citizens formed a

revolution against France colony. In an event of wanting self rule their came an up rise of young

and old revolutionaries who wanted independence for Algeria. They were so determined that

they used all means to show the France colony that they wanted their Liberty. It is unfortunate

that in the struggle many lost their lives and property. Battle of Algiers is a movie that show true

colors of revolution and it is based on events that occurred in the 1950s in Algeria. The movie

shows how determined the people of Algeria were that even women entered the revolution. They

used their outward signs of piety (burkas) to hide weapons.

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The first impression of the movie is how brutal the French colonial government was to

the people of Algeria. It starts over by showing a man who most probably had been tortured by

the French military personnel. It is followed by showing the Colonel Mathieu entering the room

where the man is held and ordering him to wear French uniform. The man responds by shedding

a tear showing that he is on pressure of doing something that he does not wish to do. In the next

scene we see the commander instructing some people who are a wall. Ali Pointe on the other end

is seen to be running through the streets and some French Young men trip him. Being a hot head

he smashes the young man’s face showing how brutal he could be if pushed to the wall.

According to an article by Max Weber “The Nation” he explains that considering some

sentiments of prestige there are some individuals who are obsessed with the political structure

that they forget the status of others (P.21). In this case as shown in the movie, French have left

Vietnam in defeat and thus comes back to concur Algeria. They are then met with a team of

revolutionaries who also have to show that they are not willing to be conquered. Led by

Paratrooper Commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin) who is a former French Resistance

fighter during World War II. It is also ironical for a resistance army commander to be sent to

Algeria to reinforce efforts to muffle the uprising Algerian War.

Weber continues to explain in his article “The Nation” that it is common for the group of

people who steer common conduct within a policy to bestow themselves with the fervor of

power prestige (p 21). In relation to the movie France bring about torture to Algeria in such a

manner that the Algerians respond by bombing soda shops. The French army is seen in the

movie vowing to treat those who use terror and violence with extreme punishment. Colonel

Mathieu faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag) who is was a former petty criminal but now has

risen to being the leader of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale.

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He is so determined that he explains to a fellow freedom fighter that it is hard to start a

revolution, maintain it and even difficult to win it. His ways of revolution are of impacting terror

strategies against the colonial French government. Especially in 1954 many French policemen

were shot dead by the National Liberation Front of Algiers. Ali la Pointe is so determined that he

even includes women in his mission as they were less targets to police brutality and suspicion.

The NLF recruited three women who are sent into two bars and the Air France office with bombs

set in their handbags. The three are seen to have killed many people in the three targets that they

placed the bombs.

According to Karl W. Deutsch in his article Nationalism and Social Communication he

explains the importance o f keeping historical equipments or data. The movie as an analysis of

what happened in the 1950s shows the importance of reflecting to what earlier happened even

though it was not pleasant. As it is known the movie was banned in France and reproduced in

American soil winning awards. The movie is a reflection of how events preceded in Algeria as

earlier mentioned. In the movie the terror that is done by NFL sends negative messages to the

French government making them react in a dehumanizing manner. After the attack in Casbah

that act as the principal Muslim quarter of the city of Algiers the French colonial government

sent out a massive and brutal military force led by Colonel Mathieu.

There was massive crash of the people of Algeria both the ones who were not in the

National Liberation Front and those who were involved. Police came out with brutality that led

to massive death and destruction. It is imperative to note that complementarity or communicative

efficiency is a function that is also described as overall result (Deutsch, p.26). The movie played

the role of conveying s message of happening that were brutal and is good for the impact

direction of history. It is seen in the movie that both sides seeking United Nations discussion
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because of the collateral damage. The revolution of Ali Pointe started when he was in prison as

because he was a lifelong petty criminal. He was also illiterate and thus the National Liberation

Front saw was fit as a leader. The position he held was as a result of his courage among his

prison peers and that made him more famous.

Ali is seen in the movie as very brave because in a scene he is approached by a boy with

a note that instructs him on how to carry out a terrorist plot. He goes ahead and gets tricked into

shooting a French officer but unfortunately the gun was empty and that is when he qualifies to

meet leaders of the resistance movement, the Jaffar. Taking by his courageous moves he

qualifies to lead the resistance army. In another scene he is seen shooting a middle-aged man just

to prove his loyalty into gaining Algeria’s independence. Most things that make up a

revolutionary is scene like when Ali was in Prison he saw a man being beheaded with the

guillotine.

As said earlier the movie is set to convey information and as scene in some two scenes in

the movie there are reporters asking questions. The reporter first is seen questioning a high-level

resistance fighter who portrays French intervention as dehumanizing and selfish. The second

reporter is seen approaching the captain with difficult questions that lead to him asking if indeed

they used torture. It is clear that the captain was avoiding the interview and thus he answered the

questions in a diplomatic manner. While the questions are asked on the background there is a

scene of brutal torture to an Algerian victim. Deutch shows the fact that communication is key to

any development of a facility or community (p.26).

In conclusion we see Ali and his friends and they hear soldier’s boots approaching, all of

them hide by the wall hiding place but women are left broadly. The French soldiers are then seen
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planting a bomb outside the hiding place targeted to bomb the members of the resistance front

especially Ali. It is imperative for one to understand as at the end is seen in the movie the

importance of communication and dialogue. As in the last scene the captain is seen negotiating

with part of the resistance fighters who wanted a written promise will lead to a fair trial if they

surrender. It is upon the much struggle of revolution that we see the captain narrating that on July

2, 1962 Algeria finally got its independent.

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Work cited

Max Weber. The Nation: Essays in Sociology: The question of definition (1948)

Karl W.Deutch. Nationalism and social communication: The question of definition (1948)