The Battle of Algiers

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The Battle of Algiers

1967

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to 1950s Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag), a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Libération Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.

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Critics Consensus

A documentary-like depiction of a nation's real-life efforts to expel a colonizing force, The Battle of Algiers puts viewers on the front lines with gripping realism.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/18/2023

I think people's senses are so overwhelmed by the surging inevitability of the action that they are prepared to support what, in another context, they would reject.

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Eric Hynes

Village Voice

10/05/2016

It uses realism as an effect, documentary as a style. You feel that you're really there, and you can't help but be moved.

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Mike D'Angelo

AV Club

10/05/2016

A-

It neither demonizes nor lionizes either side of the conflict, aiming for just-the-ugly facts objectivity. Nobody who sees it is likely to feel comforted, or even vindicated. The emotion it most frequently and fervently inspires is sorrow.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Jan 14

4/4

With irresistible style and narrative efficiency, The Battle of Algiers mourns the conditions of colonialism, capturing the moral complexity and human toll of an imperialistic relationship between the colonizer and colonized.

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Oct 15

A raw, roaring, incendiary work of art.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

08/09/2024

Directed with a newsreel immediacy and a documentary seriousness, it could be used by young revolutionary groups as a guide to creating the political structure of a resistance movement.

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Joshua D

@Josh26 Jan 18

Fascinating and educational masterpiece. A must watch for so many reasons.

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Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing Dec 28

The authenticity and realism are still unmatched almost 60 years later. A cinematic masterpiece that is perpetually impactful.

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Mohamed M

Nov 6

فيلم يقدم الثورة من اجل الحرية بشكل مباشر وواقعي

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revolver.0 8

@Revolver08 Oct 6

masterpiece fore generations to come

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Elon S

@mvej45 Aug 21

What every movie should be.

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Lluvia A

Aug 13

Long movie! However the documentary feel is cool!! Enjoyed it.

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Gillo Pontecorvo

Director

Jean Martin

Col. Mathieu

Yacef Saadi

Djafar

Brahim Haggiag

Ali La Pointe

Tommaso Neri

Captain (uncredited)

Samia Kerbash

One of the girls

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Synopsis

Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to 1950s Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag), a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Libération Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.

Director: Gillo Pontecorvo
Producer: Antonio Musu, Yacef Saadi
Distributor: Rialto Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc., Criterion Collection, Rizzoli
Production Co: Cashbah, Igor Film
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1967, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.9K
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Mono

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