Movie Analysis Essay on The Battle of Algiers

Introduction

In most modern political environments in most nations, terrorism and rebellion are often practiced to a high degree by most politicians who are keen on taking advantage of some existing evil situations in their respective countries. We should all be aware that terrorism is not performed for any good but to harm a nation, her constituents, and her reputations as well, and this, in most cases, scare foreign investors from putting up constructive businesses into such countries. The main aim of terrorism, on most occasions, is to bar substantial social gatherings and to hinder programmed campaigns. This can be a strategy used by other politicians to destabilize their threatening opponents in some political positions.

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In the movie "The Battle of Algiers," we get enlightened much over terrorism and its effects. Mainly how terrorism attacks and anti-attack campaigns can be made. However, it doesn't give a balanced insight into the threat of terrorism since it is full of drama meant for entertainment. And it majorly aims at responses from its audiences by manipulating the movie styles to capture the most attention while watching.

Even though most movies reaching the public are not touching on facts, however, the battle of Algiers is a unique one, moving on factual things affecting us in our daily lives today; therefore, if at all people are to choose, then I'll instead choose to watch it over other films. It is so detailed of terrorism and how to counter it, and hence, most realistic. Besides, it inspires technically about revolution.

It teaches people about two sides of a revolution, that is on the progress of the rebellious front de liberation Nationale (FLN) group and its end by French paratroopers. From here, we can see both the operations of the terrorists and the anti-terrorists, and hence, the audience is actively involved in both sides of the story. The most exciting part where terrorism campaign is shown is acted in the preliminary parts of the film in which the FLN set up is shown to signify a safe area.

For instance, when the liberation declares to fight against prohibited substances like drugs, alcohol, and other ill behaviors like prostitution and their procurements. The government finds it easy to support and seal such movement by putting more authority to it, as seen in the Middle East (Kasbah). When these actions are successfully executed, leaving people with only two options, that is to choose to obey the set laws or to be arrested (by Ali La Pointe) upon being found on the wrong side of it.

In most cases, most people will choose to be safe by obeying the laws with or without their consent on what is going to happen next. For instance, the people of Kasbah decided to abide by them, and by doing so, the FLN movement was now eased, and the same citizens were servicing them with shelter and necessary support they need. Surprisingly, some of these activities carried out by such rebellious groups will eventually show that they are trying to form a parallel authority to the ruling government, and such revolutionary governments will always give threats to any recognized government. For instance, the wedding scenario planned by the FLN, showing that they have set a parallel revolutionary state of authority over Kasbah.

Also, in most similar cases, many people will prefer giving more attention to such formed authorities over the official body, for example, the colonial government in France was affected by terrorist movement, which is claiming to be accounting for their people by representing, supporting, and obeying them and their needs. In doing so, they are trying to blackmail the working government in the faces of their people, and this may result in a coup in such nations.

From the film, we can see numerous events informing us of the perplexities of the campaigns of these terrorists. It gives us a clear image of how they drove the Kasbah people to engage with them actively; they gained popularity through intimidating the French government to detonate a bomb they set in the city of Kasbah. They also took the responsibility of providing to their people, including their real enemies, and thus, changing the FLN name from a small organization with only an ideology into people's organization.

The bomb, which is set in the Kasbah signifies that the French are the real enemies of the Arabs who majorly dwell in that city without considering their political stand, and this action convinces the Kasbah people to act accordingly to counter their enemy; therefore, the FLN declares vengeance on them. With this declaration, the anger of the local individuals was successfully converted into support by the rebellion crew.

The movie resists the temptation of empathizing with the FLN once the French specially trained soldiers appear with their most regarded intelligent colonists, Colonel Mathieu. Consequently, the film critically adopts a standpoint, allowing the audience to get a clear understanding of both campaigns of the terrorists and how to outsmart it. We can see Mathieu informing us of the two main objectives of launching an anti-terror special operation in Algiers. Besides, he demonstrates how to mark an enemy quickly and how to bring him down.

Nevertheless, this movie also encourages us to take part in debates on terrorism-related issues. From his briefing, we can understand why it is sometimes hard to identify an enemy. For instance, when we see the FLN structure, which is pyramid-like with the commander in chief at the very beginning (apex) and spreading outwards towards the members, where each member is comprised of up to three contacts each. However, Mathieu claims that they cannot identify who they are since they have no idea about one another, and this seemed exciting and refreshing to the terrorism-sensitive audiences.

From his briefings, we can learn one definite way of marking terrorists, and that is sufficient intelligence. And he affirms that the angle of the military is secondary; therefore, it is the side of the police to be valued. However, it is always the intention of terrorists to outdo the military plans of their colonial strength; they have to remain unidentified while staging an attack and slipping out of sight, leaving the state soldiers in a continuous defense mode. Surprisingly, these soldiers can never mount an effective operation to counter the terrorists because they are hard to identify.

When we keenly watch the terrorist campaign that is unfolding, the audience's attention is captured by the anti-terror forces facing difficulties in countering the enemies. Thereby, there is a compelling need to rapidly collecting military information. For instance, by modifying their operations, the FLN can manipulate the data acquired and render it useless within twenty-four hours.

Therefore, we can capture different attitudes and morals in this movie, which apply to real battles. For example, the paratroopers' torture forms part of the awkward dialogue between Mathieu and the French media in the film. Another one is between Ben M'hidi and Mathieu, ben is Mathieu's FLN colleague, who is the dominating intellect of these terrorists.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the atrocity conveyed in the face of the public by the French reporters makes Mathieu see the urge of interrogation to defeat the threatening FLN conclusively, and any member of France wishing to be part of Algeria must first accept the policies they are to set. This, to some extent, makes Mathieu and even the film appear cold and ruthless, and therefore, somewhat miss the point.