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The Battle of Algiers 15 rating

Gillo Pontecorvo’s masterpiece about the last years of French colonial rule in Algeria, seen from the perspective of both the revolutionaries and the French authorities.

Drama 1966 121 mins

Director: Gillo Pontecorvo

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Overview

Gillo Pontecorvo’s masterpiece about the turbulent last years of French colonial rule in Algeria, seen from the perspective of both the guerrilla revolutionaries and the French authorities.

Pontecorvo’s use of newsreel-style cinematography and emphasis on unbearably tense set-pieces result in a highly gripping and urgent drama that’s defiantly even-handed to both sides of the conflict. One of the most significant political films, to rank alongside Battleship Potemkin, the film continues to inspire and has been used as a morale-booster by both the Black Panther movement and the 2010 Algerian World Cup team.

Director
Gillo Pontecorvo
Featuring
Brahim HaggiagJean MartinYacef Sâadi
Genres
Drama
Certificate
15Contains some strong torture scenes and moderate violence
Released
1966
Country
Italy
Language
English