The Battle of Algiers (La Battaglia di Algeri)

In the contemporary political climate, terrorism and insurgency are often exploited to an alarming degree by political figures keen to take advantage of a practice that has become ever increasingly equated with innate evil. If we are to believe this common depiction of terrorism, then terrorism is always wrong, and is committed for no other reason than to do harm for harm's sake. However, it is clear that this contemporary political use of terrorism is somewhat simplistic, ignoring any wider social causes and any aims of the ongoing campaigns. Instead, coverage focuses on the act itself, making heroes of the victims and the law enforcers working to catch terrorists, and demonising the terrorists themselves. Such simplistic representation tells us nothing about the phenomenon itself. Indeed, recent depictions of terrorism in popular cinema have tended to adhere to this simplistic understanding of terrorism. Recent blockbuster films such as World Trade Center (2006) and United 93 (2006) give little mention to the wider social implications or causes of terrorism, presenting each attack in isolation, serving to simply condemn it. Whilst notable mention should be given to Paradise Now, (2005) a recent film dealing with Palestinian suicide bombers, it would appear as if the representation of terrorism seen in the first two (vastly more financially successful) films reflects the dominant trend. And in a media culture where the quality of a film seems so often to be measured by its realism, such a simplistic take on terrorism is inexcusable. With this in mind, I wish to direct the viewing public to Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1966), a film that breaks open the issue and presents a more realistic depiction of terrorist and counter-terrorist campaigns, whilst paying heed to the techniques, social causes and implications of such actions.