Unforgettable

Rating: Null/10 (4 February 2007)

There's no doubt that, once seen, "La Battaglia di Algeri" cannot be forgotten. It's stark and horrifying images are forever imprinted on the mind.
What's so utterly striking is that no documentary footage is used, only carefully staged scenes. Sometimes literally thousands of Algerian extras are employed--a remarkable feat for Director Gino Pontecorvo.
Every shot here in this elaborate retelling of one of history's bloodiest battles rings true. The actors are remarkably real, and the black and white cinematography gives an authentic look and feel to every episode.
I'm not sure just how accurate the politics are here (its being banned in France is notable) or exactly what statement Pontecorve is making. It seems to be pro-Algeria, and indeed the use of torture casts a shameful blemish on the French garrison.
Still, one wonders what point of view the French have regarding this terrible conflict. In the end, one ponders what it's really all about. Ownership of a piece of land?
This film undoubtedly prompted Marlon Brando to agree to work with this talented director in "Burn." The director's professional career seems as spotty and uneven as his film folio. In an interview Gino admitted to only making a film when he felt like it, even if years might pass in the interim.
"La Battaglia" remains the high point of his career, and a lasting contribution to the mock-documentary style in cinematic art.