Battle of Algiers: Old Style/ New Style Terrorism

This movie apparently has influenced the likes of Spike Lee and other directors. I was shocked by the occupation of Algeria and found myself rooting for the underdog in this movie with documentary-style camera-work. It reminded me of a documentary I saw recently about the Gaza Strip.

The Battle of Algiers is a powerful film representation of yet another difficult time in the history of planet Earth. Like so many other oppressed areas (Sicily and Northern Ireland come to mind), the people learn to fight back with varying levels of violence and what has been come to be called terrorism techniques.

While the actions of an invading or occupying army are often forgiven as acts of war, the "unconventional" methods of fighting back by the little people are often not. All this being said, the Battle of Algiers is for people who have enough patience to make it through the film (ages 14 and up) and they will be all the better for having watched it.

This film should be a part of any library with war movies in it. It goes beyond the strengths of an ordinary film and has the strength of a documentary while actually being an historical drama.