Analysis of Film for History 110B

Rating: 6/10 (25 April 2005)

Conflict, torture, and rebellion are just a few of the actions seen in the film the Battle of Algiers. This film depicts the struggles of the Algerians against the French who have occupied Algiers for many decades. The focus of the film is on the start of a rebellion and the pivotal characters in the rebellion, it follows the rebellion through riots, torture, and needless killings until the leaders of the rebellion are killed themselves. However even though the leaders of the rebellion have died, the rebellion is reborn a few years later and the Algerians successfully gain their independence. The film contains a high emotional and intellectual impact. It depicts the cruelty and inhumanness of both the leaders of the rebellion who gun down innocent French citizens, the French soldiers who watch emotionless as an Algiers is tortured and then later blame the Algier for not giving in sooner. In addition, the Algier is treated almost with camaraderie as the Algier is given coffee and clothes and patted on the back for him to lead the way to the rebel hideout. The film reveals the deadened almost blank expression the French soldiers depict as someone is tortured. It contrasts with the passionate, almost zealous rebels who gun down and try to run over French citizens. It is a stark contrast and yet it shows that no one is free from the devastation and destruction of the rebellion. Although the French soldiers target the rebellions, little harm was done to other Algerians initially and the French soldier Mathias appeals to a woman whose home has been occupied by the rebels to ask the rebels to give themselves up. This can be compared to the rebels who are willing to gun down and run over any one they feel are not native which includes French citizens who are attempting to make lives in Algiers. There is a sense of horrified fascination as the rebels use an ambulance to gun down French citizens who are minding their business and one of the rebels attempt to run over the French citizens. This will also share a resemblance at the end of the film where Algerians demanding their independence are gunned down by French soldiers, have bombs thrown at them, and chased by armored tanks.
Although the Battle of Algiers occurred in the 1960s, the struggle for power and dominance and the need to assert power can be interpreted as universal and can occur in the present. Even though the "war in Iraq" began for reasons some are still unsure about whether due to weapons of mass destruction or to liberate Iraq there is a power struggle occurring. What is tragic that soldiers who believe in American and the people are Iraq are being killed because issues are not resolved peacefully. The people of Iraq are similar to the Algerians in that they are battling against people they believe are invaders and that they have the capabilities to run their own country and have their independence. Although the French and today the Americans are battling for different goals, both have invested too much time, energy, and money to leave the natives of that country alone and leave. Although the Algerians were able to gain their independence, it was not without the cost of the destruction of the country and millions of lives of the French and Algerians. Today, there is still the struggle for power and independence. Although history is taught so that with knowledge gained the same mistakes can be prevented, history still has the potential of repeating itself.