TUESDAY JANUARY 13th @ CAVIA

THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1966)
Directed by Gillo Ponteccorvo
121 minutes
In Italian/French/Arabic with ENGLISH subtitles

Probably one of the most influential political films to date, the Battle of Algiers vividly recreates a key year in the violent Algerian struggle for independence from the occupying French in the 1950s. When violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at point-blank range, women plant bombs in cafes, and French soldiers resort to torture to break the will of their prisoners. Shot in a riveting documentary style of filmmaking this film is a tour de force on the subject of terrorism.

Acknowledged as one of the most powerful films ever made, its on many critics top ten lists for greatest films in the history of cinema. Its vital, dramatic, inventive and sincere. It developed its own new style of filmmaking, it has some great naturalistic acting, brilliant editing and a powerful soundtrack. If only one percent of the junk that comes off the HOLLYWOOD assembly line was as fresh and incredible as this film!

It should be noted that in fact many of the \'actors\' that were used had been the real freedom fighters during the war for liberation. And despite the fact that the cast was made up of non-professional actors, it had a deep influence on directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Steven Soderbergh (the style of TRAFFIC was totally lifted from this film), Julien Schnabel, Spike Lee and Oliver Stone. Indeed its a mandatory film for any cinema lover to experience. The film\'s impact was so incendiary that when it first came out it was banned in France.

And what is surreal is the fact that in 2003, in the \"war against terror\", the PENTAGON screened this film in order to see what strategy they should use to combat terrorists in Iraq! In fact the film is still strikingly similar to current events today in the middle east.

Ciné INTERZONE
Filmhuis Cavia - Van Hallstraat 52-B
Time: 20:30
Membership 3 Euros

Location
Van Hallstraat 52-B Amsterdam



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