The Battle of Algiers

“Battaglia di Algeria” translates to the “Battle of Algeria” which is a documentary that chronicles the clash between the Algerian National Liberation Front (NLF) and the French Colonial Authority. The story depicts the horrible tactics used by both side as the NLF struggled for independence and the French fight viciously to hold onto power. This is background by the French Foreign Legion inability to achieve victory in Vietnam and thus they must prove their military prowess in defense of their claim over the Algerian people. Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin) is a torturously brutal individual who has no respect for any Algerian. On the other had, there’s Ali La Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj) who has no qualms about sending women laden with explosives into business as detonating them killing children as they sit enjoying ice cream. This is a two sided look at the tragedies that surround a people’s fight for independence