Brilliant, Realistic and Surprisingly Contemporary

Rating: 9/10 (10 May 2005)

I first came across this film while researching on terrorism for an honors undergraduate course. After viewing the film, I later decided to review it at length.
Originally released in 1966, Gillo Pontecorvo's film graphically depicts the Algerian urban uprising against the French colonial administration. It is filmed in black and white, in the form of a semi-documentary. Considering the subject matter, it remains astoundingly non-partisan while striving for objectivity -which it attains. There are striking similarities between the film and recent events in the American-led war on terror. As a matter of fact, this film portrays the inherent paradoxes of terrorism in such a clear way that one can only wish that it captivated a wider audience -particularly among policy-makers. The boundaries between freedom-fighter and terrorist are cleverly blended leaving it up to the viewer which side to pick. This is no Hollywood flick so the moral choice is not served to us on a silver platter. Both sides are guilty of war crimes.
Naturally the film works on many levels and will certainly be enjoyed by the film buff as well as anyone interested in wider political issues. The soundtrack deserves specific mentioning, coming as it does from the maestro Ennio Morricone himself.
The film gives an inside account of the tough decisions policy-makers are forced to make on a daily basis when it comes to foreign occupation. Sensitive viewers beware: this film contains gritty violence that carries a sense of realism that will remain with you for days.