The Battle of Algiers

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The Battle of Algiers

Released Sep 20, 1967

2h 5m

War

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to 1950s Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag), a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.

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Critics Consensus

A documentary-like depiction of a nation's real-life efforts to expel a colonizing force, The Battle of Algiers puts viewers on the front lines with gripping realism.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

I think people's senses are so overwhelmed by the surging inevitability of the action that they are prepared to support what, in another context, they would reject.

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

Eric Hynes

Village Voice

It uses realism as an effect, documentary as a style. You feel that you're really there, and you can't help but be moved.

Oct 5, 2016

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Mike D'Angelo

AV Club

It neither demonizes nor lionizes either side of the conflict, aiming for just-the-ugly facts objectivity. Nobody who sees it is likely to feel comforted, or even vindicated. The emotion it most frequently and fervently inspires is sorrow.

Rated: A-

Oct 5, 2016

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Directed with a newsreel immediacy and a documentary seriousness, it could be used by young revolutionary groups as a guide to creating the political structure of a resistance movement.

Aug 9, 2024

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Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

The lessons The Battle of Algiers has to offer are painfully obvious. Why we still haven't learned them over fifty years hence defies all logic.

Jul 22, 2023

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

In terms of the political genre, this one may be among the greatest internationally with its documentary-style shoot...

Mar 8, 2023

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Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Jean Martin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Arabic and English versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

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Luca D

Great practical effects and makeup give this movie a very gritty realistic look almost as if your watching a real documentary about the real battle. Decent character building though not the best. Definitely worth watching if your into war reenactments films (Lawrence of Arabia-esque) type movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

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Micah H

Complete emotional detachment and void of any character development. This film is so underwhelming that it made me strongly dislike the so called protagonists and root heavily for the French.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

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andrea m

Crude Fiml that with a documentary style makes clear that brutal violence in managing the investigation allows French paratroops to win rebels. However that is without sense since Revolution is only delaied. Best of best

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

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R Salman K

One of my letterboxd top four also the greatest movie ever made masterpiece ❤️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

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Lee C

This movie may be important for anyone interested in Algerian or French history, but it's not a good movie. The screenwriters did not bother to provide the characters with backstories that explain their motivations or provide viewers with reasons to care about them as people. Given that the lead characters that we presumably are supposed to empathize with are terrorists who deliberately kill many, many innocent civilians, that would have been a good thing to do. Instead, characters pop up, do things for reasons that aren't well explained, and then are arrested or blown up or whatever.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

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Gillo Pontecorvo

Director

Jean Martin

Col. Mathieu

Yacef Saadi

Djafar

Brahim Haggiag

Ali La Pointe

Tommaso Neri

Captain (uncredited)

Samia Kerbash

One of the girls

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Synopsis

Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to 1950s Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe (Brahim Haggiag), a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.

Director: Gillo Pontecorvo
Producer: Antonio Musu, Yacef Saadi
Distributor: Rialto Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc., Criterion Collection, Rizzoli
Production Co: Cashbah, Igor Film
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1967, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.9K
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Mono

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