StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers" focuses on the conflict between Algeria and France in The Battle of Algiers. The exercise of torture or persecution certainly rebounded on France, weakening public approval of colonization…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.8% of users find it useful
The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers"

Introduction Even though it is more than four decades ago, The Battle of Algiers by Gillo Pontecorvo is still one of the most modern and important movies ever to explore the nature and outcome of terrorism. Yet the significance of the The Battle of Algiers does not rest in its value as a manual for terrorists but in its portrayal of the European and American interactions with the Arab world since the 1940s. This cinematic masterpiece is inspired by the actual episodes that happened during the Algerian fight for independence from 1954 to 1962 (Hughes 2006). The film tells the story of a small unit of dissenters within the National Liberation Front (FLN) and Ali La Pointe, their persuasive ruler who exercise all available tactics to force the French out of the country. The film begins in 1957 with a troubled and messed up rebel yielding to the French guards’ harassment and revealing the location of La Pointe. The film afterward goes back to 1954, depicting the growing conflict between the French and Arabs within Algiers. The rebels perform a chain of attacks on guards, leading to an onslaught on the Arab district in Algiers, the Casbah (Hughes 2006). Control mechanisms were initiated. But the violence persists. One rebel tells La Pointe, “Terrorism is useful as a start. But then the people must act” (Haspel 2006, 33). The rebels bid a general protest to organize Algerians and pressure the international regime during a UN deliberation on the state of affairs in Algeria (Clark 1959). The movie ends quite abruptly. Scenes of protests are complemented by a short narration: “Two more years of fighting, and of mourning. July 2, 1962. Independence. The Algerian Nation is born” (Haspel 2006, 33). Viewers expect more, more scenes of liberated and triumphant Algerians, or for a commentary about how remarkable the accomplishment of Algerian liberation was, for the Algerians are released from colonial bondage; yet the movie suddenly ends, its final scene a woman protester carrying an Algerian flag. Lindsey Moore explains several dilemmas and intricacies of the Algerian Revolution that remained unresolved in the movie (McLaughlin 2010, 121): [T]he violent rise to dominance of the FLN; the triangular conflict between pieds noirs, Algerian nationalists and metropolitan France; evidence of sympathetic French collaboration with the Algerian cause; and class-related factors of the struggle, including the uprising of the rural population and the role of the poor whites and the small Europeanized Algerian bourgeoisie. Every argument is reasonable, but it also seems impossible to compress into a short film all of the intricacies of an 8-year revolution. Thus even critics who have claimed that the movie is erroneous in a number of historical points have had to understand that it exceptionally depicts the feeling and mood of the moment. According to Smith (2008), efforts to launch the movie in France, after an embargo, were interrupted when the Secret Army Organization (OAS), a radical faction formed by assertive French colonial colonists and French Army officials contested any submission of French power over Algeria, released violent warnings against any French movie house where Pontecorvo’s film could be shown. Algeria once again hits the international spotlight in 1992. The Algerian government was trying to conduct the first multiparty, democratic election to the nation’s legislature; however the Algerian military reaction to what appeared a definite preliminary triumph for an ultraconservative, Islamist party—the FIS, or the Islamic Salvation Front-- by calling off the elections, as a public representative declares, “until necessary conditions are achieved for the normal functioning of institutions” (Haspel 2006, 34). To the statement of the government that it was “temporarily taking over all matters that could threaten public order and state security” (34) the Islamist party mockingly criticized what they referred to as a “scandalous scenario that drowns the people’s choice” (34). The film director himself, feeling unfortunate about existing in a period when ‘certainties have failed,’ appeared indecisive in his response to the decisions of the Algerian government. Pontecorvo’s stated that the Algerian officials (Haspel 2006, 34):“stole their victory. But I hesitate to say whether that’s a good or bad thing. It’s a choice between plague and cholera. If the FIS came to power, that would be very serious. It’s cholera. So, it’s a sad situation.” In the meantime, the Pentagon recently showed Pontecorvo’s film to an assembly of civilian professionals and officials, on the assumption that the widely applauded realistic style of the movie would improve their understanding of guerilla combat in Iraq. However a more appropriate comparison to the state of affairs in contemporary Iraq is the 1982 dilemma of Israel in southern Lebanon (Powell 2004). After gaining the appreciation of the Shiite populace for eradicating the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Israel made a decision to instigate ‘regime change’ (Smith 2008, 110). The outcome was the formation of Hezbollah, a guerilla group that performed a regimented and quite successful opposition against the Israeli invasion, finally compelling Israel to pull out (Hughes 2006). Yet although The Battle of Algiers comparison is flawed, it still merits consideration. The French official who commands the battle in the movie is Colonel Mathieu, a refined, compelling Resistance expert, freely patterned to Jacques Massu, the French leader in Algiers. In his attempts to vanquish the rebellion, Mathieu launches a military rule, disgracing, assaulting and murdering Algerians (Hughes 2006). Members of the press express their resentments at press meetings, but Mathieu overwhelms them. Mathieu ‘triumphs’, yet, as Pontecorvo tells his audiences, five years after Algeria gains autonomy, due to the determination of Algerians but to General Charles de Gaulle as well, who, after pledging not to leave Algeria, at last realized that France had far more damages to sustain by remaining than by leaving (McLaughlin 2010). Gen. de Gaulle had to muster tremendous guts to do so, rising above the oppositions of an enraged colonist demonstration and the threats of fearful associates who advised him to stay. According to Powell (2004), instead of examining the strategies of Mathieu, whose remorseful actual form, Massu, disclaimed persecution prior to his demise, America would be in a more advantageous position under de Gaulle’s model. The Battle of Algiers, for American audiences nowadays, has certain value. The movie’s depictions of terrorism that bring about fear, pain, misery, and death among civilians or innocent people remind one of the 9/11 attack. As one witnesses French guards persecuting FLN members, the disgraceful images of US combatants mistreating Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib jail flood back twice as intensely and powerfully to one’s mind (Smith 2008). Movie critics or film scholars are not the only people who discern similarities between the movie and the contemporary period. A correspondent for the Nation reveals the true purpose of the Pentagon officials for showing the film to military and civilian officers: that is to gain more knowledge of guerilla warfare in the Arab world (Powell 2004). But people who witness the film only for its strategic ideas possibly overlook its thematic perspectives. Pontecorvo has reminded the world that colonial exploitation and repression encourages terrorist measures, and that terrorism has a tendency to cultivate terrorism, paving the way to a world where faith is defeated and opponents start to look like each other. It is still unclear whether people will pay heed to that warning. Conclusions Possibly the most significant message of The Battle of Algiers, and the conflict between Algeria and France, is that effective military strategies do not result in enduring peace except if escorted with an effective political tactic. The exercise of torture or persecution certainly rebounded on France, weakening public approval of colonization. Even though the rebels were defeated, the ending of the film depicts Algerians persistently fighting for their rights and independence. Works Cited Clark, Michael. Algeria in Turmoil: A History of the Rebellion. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1959. Haspel, Paul. “Algeria Revisited: Opposing Commanders as Warring Doubles in the Battle of Algiers” Journal of Film and Video 58.3 (2006): 33+ Hughes, Christopher. The Battle of Algiers: Torture and Terrorism in the City. New York: Harvard University, 2006. McLaughlin, Noah. French War Films and National Identity. Amherst, NY: Cambria Press, 2010. Powell, Sara. “The ‘battle of Algiers’ Revisited” The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs 23.2 (2004): 72. Smith, Wendy. “From Oppressed to Oppressors: The Battle of Algiers Took a Pitiless Look at the War for Algerian Independence, but the Filmmakers Could Not Foresee the Failures that Would Result” American Scholar 77.4 (2008): 109+ Read More
Tags
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words, n.d.)
The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1761682-batttle-of-algeirs
(The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1761682-batttle-of-algeirs.
“The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1761682-batttle-of-algeirs.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Most Significant Message of The Battle of Algiers

Maps: Pictorial Representations of the World

First, is that, one of the most common modes of transportation were ships.... This aim to show that these ships were in battle, or they were protecting the harbors from enemies.... The smoke indicated the damage that might have been sustained during battle....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Analysis of The Longest Day Movie

‘The Longest Day' is a movie of catastrophe, magnificence, and bravery involving a very significant day and millions of lives that were changed.... most of the movie was very accurate and the authenticity upholds.... Firstname Last Number 2 June 2015 Analysis of the movie, the longest day The longest day was created and released in 1962....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

A Hero's Journey - Commonalities and Relevance of the Rubric of Heroic Action

In this way, the reader can understand the way in which a writer or individual interacts with his chosen topic, works to force it into a reality, and hones the acumen of its message follows precisely the same steps as that the heroes journey represents.... Name Date Course Section/# A Heroes Journey: Commonalities and Relevance of the Rubric of Heroic Action For purposes of clarity, the heroes journey will be herein defined to exhibit the following 12 traits: 1)the heroes are introduced in the ordinary world, 2) they receive the call to action or adventure, 3) they are reluctant at first or refuse the call, 4) they are encouraged by a mentor, 5) they cross the threshold and enter the “special world”, 6) the encounter a series of tests, allies and enemies 7) they approach the in-most cave and cross a second threshold, 8) within this second cave they endure the ordeal, 9) they take possession of their reward, 10) they are p… ursued on the road back to the ordinary world, 11)they cross the third threshold and experience a resurrection/transformation, 12) they return with the elixir or treasure to benefit the ordinary world (Vogler 2)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Personal Affirmation Leads to Greatest Triumph or Worst Defeat

Life is useless and all struggle futile if man does not know anything about personal affirmation.... It can take on many forms but there must always be a personal affirmation tool through which man can achieve his goals.... This is because we must understand that man would go to any length if he has his eyes set on something; he would endure all if there is a destination that he wants to reach....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

The Hero's Journey - The Mythological Structure of Films

In this way, Volger sets out to express that the way in which a screenwriter interacts with his chosen topic, works to force it into a reality, and hones the acumen of its message follows precisely the same steps as that the heroes journey represents.... In presenting the process by which a screenwriter… Vogler relates the process within the confines of what can be described as the typical and well-known steps of the heroes For purposes of clarity, the heroes journey will be herein defined to exhibit the following 12 traits: 1)the heroes are introduced in the ordinary world, 2) they receive the call to action or adventure, 3) they are reluctant at first or refuse the call, 4) they are encouraged by a mentor, 5) they cross the threshold and enter the “special world”, 6) the encounter a series of tests, allies and enemies 7) they approach the in-most cave and cross a second threshold, 8) within this second cave they endure the ordeal, 9) they take possession of their reward, 10) they are pursued on the road back to the ordinary world, 11)they cross the third threshold and experience a resurrection/transformation, 12) they return with the elixir or treasure to benefit the ordinary world (Vogler 2)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Analysis of Harp of Burma Book Authored by Michio Takeyama

Some readers consider the… The book discusses how Japanese soldered were killed in thousands buy the British soldiers and the final victory of the British in the war, the Japanese soldiers are portrayed This position regarding the message of the book is accentuated by the author's opinion that the war was unjustified and that the Japanese soldiers ought to have absconded the war.... The readers though consider the book differently in terms of its message....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Use of Intelligence in World War II

battle of wits: The complete story of codebreaking in world war II.... the battle for Britain.... Use of Intelligence in World War II Use of Intelligence in World War II The Second World War was the most extensive war that history documents spanning six years (Inaba, 2008).... Tactical intelligence involves acquiring prior information about a particular battle, strengths, the location of enemy supply depots and whether there exist possibilities of crossing a given river or not....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

The Media and Propaganda in Iraq From 2003 Onwards

military to beam out a positive message about themselves, but it is also important for the military to listen to what people are saying (Second Front, 12).... The purpose of this assignment is to investigate the depiction of the American actions in Iraq in media along with its social impact....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us