The Battle of Life

Rating: 8/10 (5 June 2010)

"THE BATTLES ARE WON BY SLAUGHTER & MANEUVER. THE GREATER THE GENERAL, THE MORE HE CONTRIBUTES IN MANEUVER, THE LESS HE DEMANDS IN SLAUGHTER" -WINSTON CHURHILL
"The Battle of Algiers" Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. This film sole purpose is not only about the retelling of a historical Conflict between Algerian Citizens & the French regime in the years of 1954-1960. It's a strong powerful view of one Man's Courage to bring back Equity, Order & most of all freedom to his homeland. Another Man's military conquest to exterminate the Algerians plans to overthrown the French Government by means. This is a hard film to watch or judge of any viewing, does not show bias views towards each side. Doses not follow your typical tale of good versus evil. It's more like "Disorder versus Order". The films open of aftermath of an Algerian being tortured & interrogated by the French Military, spelling the beans on the where his fellows Algerians Guerrilla are hiding. The film cut to a flashback to a couple years back, we are first introduce to the character of Al la Pointe a, who later becomes the leader of the revolution. What made me feel uncomfortable in the first 40 minutes in the film were the acts of brutal Violence from The Algerian toward the French. The Algerian had enough of their government ruling of their land, their final solution was death. You some of them shooting or stabbing the French officials. Yes to be honest it bother me to an extent, cold blood killing was the best way. The French would have given up without a fight, they secret engineered a plan to seize off & to make clear point they won't give up till a fight, which the French a deployed a bomb at a heavily Algerians housing apartment. The French attack worked very well, at first you realize as viewer "that good that should show The Algerians not to kill in cold blood". But then in seconds your whole perception shifts to a different direction, when you come upon the aftermath of the apartment Bombing. There some films that hardly shows the aftermath of retaliation so in order to not show sorrow to the victims. The moment to see the young children & women were the main casualties of the attack. Then the whole movie becomes a classical game of chess. Which Race can strike the most efficient? Algerians activated a more well balance plan by use of Multiplying Bombs all well know public Establishment where the French socialize among each other. Makes wonder at that point who should I fear or who feel empathy more? Col. Mathieu comes in the picture; he is introduced as some kind of folk Hero or Savior. Mathieu use everything in his will power to neutralize all Algerian plans for more bloodshed towards French. In the end no side really won, just lives were taken & permanently shattered. Does taking someone's land worth killing or dying for? It's taking back you land which what truly yours worth killing or dying for? Where there be at times to result a Political Solutions with using Bloodshed? These questions are questions; the Answers will never be answered. *** & half starts