Surprisingly Unbiased

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2003)

As a second generation Algerian immigrant to the states, I am familiar with Algeria's history. So, when I heard this way made by the Algerian government, I was expecting a typically biased propaganda film. I was wrong - very wrong.
This is one of the most realistic war films I have ever seen. It is made even more impressive by the fact that it was made in the 60's, before big budget Hollywood effects, and it was made in what was, at the time, a third world country. It is also realistic in the fact that there is not set "good" or "bad". It shows that in war, everyone must go to extreme measures, trying constantly to top the enemy's gruesome acts. The scene when the suicide bombers know they are about to kill some of their own people along with the French is stunning.
The characters are very well acted as well. This could be due to that fact that the film was made right after the revolution, so it was still fresh in their memories. I suppose I am probably biased, because this film tells the story of my ancestors country, but I'm sure most non-Algerians could agree that it is a very important film in this new world we live in. I rank it with Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line and Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket as the best war films I have ever seen. And I have seen a LOT of war films.