'The battle of Algiers' (1 Viewer)

[Nate Champion]

Now, this is an incredible film. Gets you right in the gut.
The torture montage was shockingly disturbing, it looked as if it was actual documentary footage.

Utterly riveting stuff. Considered one of the best films ever made. I can see why. Thrilling yet informative - it lacks the poetic visuals of 'Soy Cuba', but has a much more real feel to it. And is not patently one-sided. Genuine cinema verita.

 

[Scientician 0.8]

It is confusing watching it because some scenes you're convinced are documentary, well I was. And I agree, it is incredible.

 

[plug]

saw this years ago. yeah, amazing movie. must track it down again.

haven't gotten around to watching 'soy cuba' yet, but it's in the video shop. heard it's great. is it?

 

[Nate Champion]

haven't gotten around to watching 'soy cuba' yet, but it's in the video shop. heard it's great. is it?

Yes. But I saw it in the cinema. It's ridiculously propaganda-ist, but visually it's - just wow!

That's

wow!

 

[oh shit]

one of my all time favourites. beautiful, brutal.

the dvd has an interesting interview with the director

 

[nlgbbbblth]

it's an excellent movie, thoroughly realistic.

Criterion DVD is great. Ton of extras.
http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=249

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

ive had this film sitting at home for months and i havent watched it yet... must have a look.

 

[Nate Champion]

ive had this film sitting at home for months and i havent watched it yet... must have a look.

That was me, until I stuck it on last night.

Special mention for that Morricone score.


Just read that three versions of this film exist.

 

[oh shit]

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2076634,00.html

 

[broken arm]

the pentagon made generals watch it and apprently George Bush has read the film notes.

as did Bader Meinhof, IRA etc etc

 

[Bellatrix]

I'm writing my dissertation on Algerian documentary and was told that I should really include this because it problematises the fiction/non-fiction genres and shit.

It is amazing, though, so I won't really object to having to watch it eight quajillion times.

 

[oh shit]

bloody women's studies!

 

[Bellatrix]

bloody women's studies!

Dammit Bernard!

It occurs to me that I never got this guff during my Film & Broadcasting course.

Which, let me tell ya, deserved it a whole lot more.

 

[oh shit]

can you recommend any algerian films? i'm especially interested in what happened at setif

 

[Bellatrix]

can you recommend any algerian films? i'm especially interested in what happened at setif

How's your French?

 

[oh shit]

rusty

merde.

 

[c0De_n1NjA]

bloody women's studies!

i did womens studies for a while in fourth year, it was called Home Economics then.

 

[c0De_n1NjA]

we made scones

 

[Bellatrix]

we made scones

I can colour inside the lines. On a computer and everything.

 

[Bellatrix]

rusty

merde.

There aren't many documentaries in English, is the thing, but there's a really great box set called La Guerre d'Algérie which gives a pretty good overview of the colonisation period and the War of Independence.