|
|
|
|
|
Battle Of AlgiersThe Battle of Algiers is a 1965 Gillo Pontecorvo film based on the Algerian War of Independence against the French occupation throughout the 1950s, from 1954 until 1962. Although the revolutionary forces were ultimately "defeated" by the French Army, the long, bloody conflict lead to the French withdrawl from Algeria. This French loss was the first in a series of humiliating French defeats in colonial wars. It is based loosely on a book of the same name by Saadi Yacef. The revolution has been called by many the bloodiest revolution in the history of the world and is often credited as the beginning of bloody post-World War II colonial revolutions, which also include the revolutions against the French in the Korea War and the Vietnam War. The film depicts the French policies of torture, intimidation, and murder to combat the FLN and MNA insurgents. Those policies have never officially been admited by the French Government, although former French General Massu, who wrote a book attempting to rebuke the film in 1971, admited the policy of torture, calling it a "cruel necessity." It is supposed that General Massu is the archetype for one of the movies leading characters, Colonel Mathieu. The film was banned in France in 1965 and was allegedly a training video for the American anti-war Weathermen terrorist organization in the 1960s. It has also been called communist propaganda by many on the right-wing, as its director, Gillo Pontecorvo, is a member of the French Communist Party. Still, it won critical acclaim, winning the Venice Film Festival Grand Prize and being nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Screenplay (Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas), Best Director (Gillo Pontecorvo), and Best Foreign Film. It has been hailed for its stunning visual effects. Indeed, it comes as a shock to many who have seen the film that it includes absolutely no real documentary or news footage. In 2003 the film again made the news after the Pentagon offered a rare screening of the film in order to show viewers "How to win a battle against terrorism and lose the war of ideas," (See Below), in relation to the on-going American occupation of Iraq. According to the Defense Department official in charge of the screening, "Showing the film offers historical insight into the conduct of French operations in Algeria, and was intended to prompt informative discussion of the challenges faced by the French." Details of the discussion have been withheld from the public. The flier advertising the screening read: - "How to win a battle against terrorism and lose the war of ideas. Children shoot soldiers at point-blank range. Women plant bombs in cafes. Soon the entire Arab population builds to a mad fervor. Sound familiar? The French have a plan. It succeeds tactically, but fails strategically. To understand why, come to a rare showing of this film."
The screening of the film at that time brought new controversy to the American occupation of Iraq and the War on Terror, as American officials have repeatedly been accused of promoting the torture and so-called "aggressive interrogation" of prisoners, especially those in Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo Bay. An American remake of the film is currently being pursued by producer Basil Iwanyk. The new film would include an American character, presumably a journalist or United Nations worker. The idea of a remake has not been well-received by the movie's proponents, however, who fear that it will be "Hollywood-ised" therefore losing it's revolutionary edge. Evidence for this allegation is the consideration of actor for the American role, as names such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Leonardo di Caprio, and Sean Penn have been pased down the grapevine. In addition to the remake, a 3-disc Criterion Collection DVD was released on October 12, 2004. External Links *New York Times on the Pentagon Screening
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|