The Battle of Algiers - Assignment Example

I agree that the African filmmaker embodies the complex, yet multiple roles of the griots/bards to reconstruct and transmit information about past and present historical events that will encourage or promote change for the future.  In the film “Battle of Algiers,” the story is told from the angle of the rebels, the police, the paratroopers, the civilians, the women, and the children. This form of storytelling gives many versions of what really happened, according to the views of each participating group. 

The FLN used several strategies to wage a rebel campaign. The first was to enforce the ban on drugs and alcohol within the group to weed out the weak members who could potentially become informants for their next dose or drink.  The second strategic move was to create havoc and chaos in areas that would bring mass police force to protect the citizens, by planting bombs in specific locations.  The third strategic move was to remove police officers with no witnesses and no traces that could point to any one person. The fourth strategic move was to organize a peaceful strike and find shelter for everyone.  The fifth strategic move was to constantly move the locations of the leaders of the rebellion.  The final strategy was to take out as many police officers, paratroopers, or French military personnel without surrendering.  As one tactic was tried, the outcome was evaluated and determined if the move was effective or if new strategies were needed to continue the fight for freedom.  The description of resistance and response was eloquently surmised in the quote by Colonel Mathieu, “The FLN wants to remove the French from Algeria and the French want to stay” (Pontecorvo, 1966).

Whenever one group tries to enforce their rules and beliefs on another group, there is bound to be some sort of social movement, once the oppressed group decides they are not willing to concede or assimilate into the forced requirements of the dominating group.  The tactics that are used during wartime are not considered humane from any side.   Many of the strategies used by the police, paratroopers, or rebels were terrorist and violent actions toward the opposing side (Pontecorvo, 1966).  Each side tries to act like the “good guys” and make the civilians believe that their way is the best choice.  Any group that is being repressed or oppressed is going to have some individuals who will object to the treatment.

The use of torture to gain information is a tactic used by every organization during wartime. The extent of the torture depends on the values and beliefs of the group performing the torture.  The individuals on the receiving end of the torture may not consider what one side believes to be acceptable.  The attempt to use the journalists to promote French values and beliefs was a strategic move on the part of the French troops. The information disseminated through media venues is often taken as truth, even when the information is skewed.  According to the French Colonel, the means justified the end.

The tradition that Arab women are not to be touched worked as a strategic maneuver for the FLN to move weapons, bombs, and even the leaders of the resistance around the city. This strategy was very successful, as the women were able to go through the roadblocks untouched (Pontecorvo, 1966).

The use of the female body to transport weapons and later the leaders of the resistance dressing up as women to travel through the city was used to continue the stereotypical views of Arab women and the beliefs and traditions that Arab women are not seen by anyone outside their own home.  When the females who normally wore the robes and the veils changed their appearance to look like the Western world, they were allowed to travel through the city without being asked any questions.  This strategy was important as the rebels needed to continue to surprise the police and French troops.

The way the film was portrayed to express the views of the citizens of Algeria and the inclusion of the torture scenes made the story believable.  The bombings of peoples’ homes and the ruin and rubble left in the wake of the bomb were exposed as very real events.  The sadness recorded on the face of the actors portrayed the sorrow one might feel in the same situation.  The use of convincing examples reinforced the event as actual history and what the Algerians endured during the colonization era.