La Batalla De Algeria

The battle of Algiers

The Battle of Algiers s a 1966 war film based on occurrences during the Algerian War (1954–62) against The French Government in North Africa. It was directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. The film has been critically celebrated and often taken, by insurgent groups and states alike, as an important commentary on urban guerilla warfare. It occupies the 120th place on EmpireMagazine's list of the 500 greatest movies of all time. The film was banned for five years in France, where it was released cut in 1974.

National Liberation Front (NLF)

The film depicts the conflict that triggered the independence of Algeria from France, not being a documentary, but trying to look realistic and imitating the aesthetics of realism. In this fiction, the film (the camera as well as thespectator) remains neutral, and never takes part on the unraveling of the conflict, not positioning itself in any of the sides. Consequently, it tells the story from different perspectives, focusing on the actions of the rebels (NLF) and on the opposite side, the counter-terrorist campaign by the French Special Army.

It is interesting how terrorism is presented as a way of resistance anddemand of independence, as we have seen in many other examples throughout the history of the last decades (ETA fighting for the independence of the Basque Country from Spain, IRA trying to make Northern Ireland part of Ireland and independent from the UK, or the PKK that wants to make the Kurdistan an independent nation). This point of view starts a debate about terrorism as a solution or as a“legitimate” way of becoming politically notorious and taken into account. In the film we see how for the terrorists what they are doing seems fair and totally justified, as they feel that their territory was unjustifiably taken and dominated by a European power during the colonization fever in 1830 and that they have the right to be independent and not depend on the decisions of French leaders that arejust interested in their territory because of economical and political prestige. The film shows this conviction and even passion for their beliefs, and the vision of the use of violence as the best alternative, regardless if it is something that goes against human rights (as seen in the scene where Omar, the street boy takes the army’s microphone during the strike and encourages the Arabic populationto resist and be strong).

The NLF is cleverly organized following a triangular structure in which any member of the group just knows three of his/her colleagues: the one above him (who chose him for the position), and his two subordinates (that he himself has chosen). This structure allows a more efficient confidentiality and ensures the relative protection of other members. It is alsointeresting how the NLF follows its own rules regarding its own moral, ideological and political principles (described before). This rules are perfectly effective, as every member of the organization has to follow them in order to be part of the NLF (as shown at the beginning of the film, when different members shoot, individually or helped by women, police officers; or more specifically whenAli-la-Pointe’s commitment to the cause is tested). They are also just for the ones who agree with them, as (like explained before) they want to end with the unfair French domination over a territory that is not legitimately theirs. The problem may arise when finding out if these rules are valid, having to consider what is in this case a competent authority and an appropriate proceeding, as the NLF rejectsthe official methods and considers alternative ones.

The NLF’s struggle and violence was the beginning of an independence process, which was fulfilled even if the terrorist organization was silenced. As shown at the end of the film, independence was finally achieved through pacific demonstrations and proceedings that showed the determination of the majority of the natives to get their fair...