LION D'OR 17th International Festival of Venice 1966
1st Prize International Critic 1966
Prize of the City of Venice 1966
Couldn't you have talked sooner?
It would have been better for you
So, he's finally talked.
Give him some coffee
All right, don't worry.
Drink up, it'll do you good
Buck up now. Here
At ease
- Is it true?
- Probably. 3 Rue des Abderames
Dress him
Come on, it's all over now,
I assure you
Can you stand?
Let go of him
Here, put it on
It'll fit you well
They won't recognise you like this
in the Kasbah, understand?
Show us where La Pointe is hiding
and then you'll be free
Give him a cap
Nationalised!
Don't be a fool
Let's go
Shut up.
Do you want us to start again?
Come on now.
Pull yourself together
THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS
A film by Gillo Pontecorvo
Written by Franco Solinas
Cast
Set Designer
Editing by
Director of Photography
Production Manager
Music by
Produced by
Who wants to go out?
Ali la Pointe,
the house is surrounded.
It's useless
Surrender.
Let the boy and the woman come out first
Then your companion and yourself
Leave your weapons there
No tricks, you're beaten
We've got you covered.
You don't stand a chance. Understand?
Do you hear me, Ali?
Listen,
you're the last one.
There's nothing you can do
The organization's finished
Everyone's dead, or in prison
If you come out now, you'll have a proper trial.
Surrender, Ali!
Based on the book by Saadi Yacef "Souvenirs de la Bataille d'Alger"
ALGIERS, 1954
THE EUROPEAN CITY
THE KASBAH
National Liberation Front (FLN),
Communique No. 1
Citizens of Algeria,
our fight is against colonialism
The aim - independence and
restoration of the Algerian state. . .
. . .based on Muslim precepts and
respect for fundamental rights. . .
. . .regardless of race or religion
In order to avoid bloodshed,
we propose to the French. . .
. . .fair talks bringing recognition
of our right to self-government
Algerians, it is your duty
to restore your country's freedom
You will win
Unite, brothers!
The National Liberation Front calls you to arms
The King loses, the Queen wins. .. Place your bets
This one wins, this one loses. The King loses, the Queen wins.
Place your bets!Watch!
Watch! The King loses, the Queens wins.
Where's the King? Place your bets Madam.
This one wins, this one loses
The King loses, the Queen wins. .. Place your bets
There he is!
- He's in a rush
- Stop him
Get the rat! Kill him!
Stop it! Leave him alone!
Go back to the Kasbah!
Kill the rat!
Murderer!
Kill the rat!
Omar Ali, alias Ali la Pointe,
born Miliana, 15th January 1930
Illiterate
Occupation : general labourer,
boxer. Presently unemployed
Previous record as follows. . .
1942. Algiers Juvenile Court:
one year reformatory for vandalism
1944. Orane Juvenile Court:
two years for public disorder
1949. Algiers Assizes:
sentenced to eight months' prison. . .
. . .for resisting arrest. Habitual offender.
God is mighty!
Long live Algeria!
Here he comes
Keep quiet
Five months later
- Scram!
- Men have two faces. . .
They sent you?
Yes, they sent me
Take it.
Come. Come here
- Can you read? - Sure
Read it.
There's a Moorish cafe
at 40, Rue Randon
Merabi, the owner,
is a police informer
Every day at five
a French policeman goes to see him
He stays a few minutes,
pretending to have a cup of coffee
Then he leaves.
You must kill the policeman.
-Not Merabi?
-No, the policeman
OK
You can't go wrong
Right next to the cafe
you'll see a girl with a basket. . .
. . .and a policeman nearby
At the right moment
she'll give you. . .
. .a gun. . .
. . .and you shoot him.
Don't move.
Right, I give the orders now
Look, brothers!
Look at this piece of dirt
- You bitch! You set me up
- Let's get away
- Now explain!
- See if they followed us
Who planned this? Take me to him
- He's waiting - Where?
I'll take you there if we don't get caught
Move. You go first, I'll follow
We had to be sure you weren't a spy
With an empty gun?
Let's suppose you were a spy
The FLN contact you in prison.
You pretend to be for the cause. . .
. . .and the French let you escape
Shooting at me?
It could be fixed. You escape, go
to the address given you in prison. . .
. . .and get to know me
What's your name?
Jaffer. Lahadi Jaffer
To join us you had to do a job
The barman is an Algerian
The cops would let you kill him. . .
. . .even though he's a "stool"
But this would prove your loyalty
That's why I chose the cop
The French wouldn't allow that
If you were one of them. . .
. . . you wouldn't have done it
I didn't
You couldn't, but you tried, that's the important thing
And nearly got caught
Come on. You're exaggerating.
Your orders were to shoot in the back
I didn't know
You don't understand
Explain. Why didn't you let me kill him?
Well, we're not ready yet
We need a safe place to go from
and to hide in
There's the Kasbah, but it's still not safe
Too many drunks, whores, junkies.
People who talk too much
Uncommitted people, ready to sell us out
We must convince them or eliminate them
We must think of ourselves first and clean out the Kasbah
Then we can think about the French.
Do you understand?
APRIL 1956
National Liberation Front
Communique No. 24
People of Algeria,
the Colonial Administration. . .
. . .is responsible not only for the misery of our people. . .
. . .but also for the vices of
many of our brothers and sisters
Vices which make them lose all dignity
The FLN has decided to wipe out this scourge
It calls on the people to help in this struggle. . .
. . .as it is a prerequisite
to gaining independence
From today the FLN assumes responsibility. . .
. ..for the physical and moral health of the Algerian people
The FLN has decided. . .
. . .to prohibit the sale and use of all drugs and alcoholic drink
Prostitution and pimping are forbidden
Offenders will be punished. Those who persist will be put to death.
You know drugs are forbidden
- Why? - Just do without
Have you seen Hassan el Bridi?
Seen Hassan el Bridi?
- Have you seen Hassan? - No
If you see Hassan tell him I'm looking for him
Ali, what's the matter?
- Is Hassan here?
- No, he left very early. Why?
If you see him tell him I need him
Ali, hello!
Stand still!
Don't move your hands
- I never carry weapons
- I know
Are you afraid of these?
Don't move
Why are you afraid?
We've always been friends.
I almost brought you up
That's true
- What's happened to you?
- You're condemned to death
So that's what it's come to
I could die of laughter
How much do they pay you?
Nothing. They've warned you twice.
This is the last time. Decide
What? What must I decide?
To work for the FLN
Try and convince me
Stop! Take a good look.
No one does as he likes in the Kasbah any more.
Not even Hassan, still less you scum
Now, get out.
And spread the word.
10th June 1956
Stay outside and keep watch
- Is everything all right?
- Fine
Sit down
Let's hurry up with the formalities, you know why.
One day, weddings will be celebrated in the open again
It is very sad that a day like this. . .
. . .should not be celebrated traditionally.
But being the first to desert the offices of the French. . .
To be married by the FLN takes courage.
It is a conscious gesture
An act of war
And now,
Mahmoud and Fathia come forward
Sign here
Congratulations
Best wishes, very best wishes
Make yourselves comfortable
20th June 1956. 10.32 a.m.
Come over here
Keep calm
Come this way
Listen
They want to talk to the Inspector
Come
Yes, sir, but they didn't get the search warrant
Rue d'Isly?
They followed them but then lost them
Of course, sir,
but that depends on the Commissioner.
Democratic methods. We do have some suspects.
They favour a formal enquiry
Yes, sir. . .
I don't have enough men
I understand
But if you could.. .
The Prefect can't
But couldn't you? As you wish.
Ok.
Well, they'll slaughter the lot of us.
Right. ..
3.00 p.m. Patrol fired on.
Three soldiers wounded
Location : Rue Luciani
4.00 p.m. Shots fired at guards
Location : intersection of main road and Avenue Laquiere.
Wait a minute . . .
In Paris, the solution is
to increase police numbers. . .
. . .and close off streets.
I don't agree with it
Right, Corbiere, where were we?
Intersection of main road and Avenue Laquiere
The Governor of Algiers decrees:
Article 1. . .
Purchase of medicines suitable for treating gun wounds. . .
. . .must be authorised by the Prefecture
Article 2:
Hospitals and nursing homes must inform the police. . .
. . .about all patients admitted for treatment.
The Algiers Prefecture communicates. . .
. . .that recently there have been dozens of outrages in the city.
The culprits are presumed to be Moslem. . .
.. .able to find refuge quickly and easily in the Arab quarters.
As a result, and in order to alleviate without delay
the security that now reigns in the city
the Prefect has decided to seal off the Kasbah.
Checkpoints will be set up
And citizens will have to show their papers
and may be searched.
Queue up.
- Returning to the Kasbah?
- No, two days' leave. Good bye.
Never touch their women.
20th July 1956, 1 1.20 a.m.
What do you want?
I'm going swimming
- You're still here?
- It's that way
Come here
Now, get out
- Always the same!
- It's the government's fault
What does it care?
The murderers should all be killed.
Then we'd have some peace
There he is!
It's him!
- Where? - Down there
Get hold of him
Murderer! Murderer!
You dirty rat!
Where are you going?
- The rat!
- Don't let him get away
He's escaping! Grab him
I saw him! Stop him!
He's running away!
I saw him! Stop him!
Culprit: Laknan Abdullah
Labourer, married with 3 children,
living at 8 Rue de Thebes
- How many today?
- Seven incidents, three dead
A copy each for the Prefect, the press, the archives and you
- Thanks. Goodnight, Corbiere
- Goodnight, sir.
Tell me. . .
Where's Rue de Thebes?
Off the Kasbah, I believe.
- Goodnight, mamma
- Goodnight, children
Fatma, why aren't they in bed?
- They're just going
- Goodnight
- We must go now - Oh, there's still time
- Can't you play here? - Must you really go?
- Have another drink - All right, one more
No, I'm sorry, we're late
Goodnight all. Hurry up
Goodbye, Lucien.
Don't keep Henri up too late.
Goodbye.
In the back
- Is it much further? - No
Stop.
Good evening sir.
Good evening, can we go in?
- You're too late
The curfew's in force
Let him in. He's with me.
- Yes, sir, you may go through.
- Let's go Henry.
- It's all set? - Yes, hurry up
Murderers! Murderers!
Ali! Ali, stop!
Jaffer says you must stop
Get out
He's trying to stop the people
They'll kill us!
Halt!
Stay calm. Go back home or they'll kill us all
Leave it to the FLN. We'll avenge you
Greetings.
You stand guard. You come in.
- OK like this?
- Perfect
Fine
No good? Listen
I'll take my child. It'll work
OK, but go by the Divan checkpoint
It's busier and they're not so careful
The Air France offices
The cafeteria in Rue Michelot
The milk bar in Rue d'Isly
They're short-fuse bombs
so they'll be set outside the Kasbah.
At 3, Rue del Porto
But then you must hurry.
You'll only have 25 minutes
Now goodbye. And good luck.
Good luck.
Fathia, God be with you.
Stop.
Go.
Hello.
- Your papers
- I've forgotten them
- Over there. Move!
- They're at home. I must go to work
- Get back! - Please, I'm late
I said wait! - I'm late
Move back or no one will go through
- Let me through - Wait there
- It's not fair - Just wait
Excuse me. Excuse me, sir
- May I pass?
- Of course
Hello! Oh, it's all right
Excuse me. . .
Go through, Madame
Hands up.
Ok Go through, Madame.
Move.
I'll be an hour. He's a good boy
Thank you
- Going to the sea, Miss?
- How did you know?
I guessed
- Like some company?
- Not today. I've friends waiting
What a pity! Maybe another time?
Maybe
Good luck
Cola, please
- Would you like to sit down?
- Thank you -Here you are
100 francs
Leaving already? What a shame
Attention please.
Flight 432 to Paris. . .
. . .will be delayed for 20 minutes
Attention please.
Flight 432 to Paris. . .
. . .will be delayed for 20 minutes
Would you like another Martini?
It's nothing, just a gas bottle
The Paras!
10th June 1957
Jean Soreau, Inspector General of the Administration
has presided over a special meeting to combat terrorism in Algiers.
Important decisions were taken
to maintain law and order. . .
. . .and to protect people and property.
It was decided that General Carelle. . .
. . .commanding the 10th Paratroop Division. . .
. . .will assume responsibility for law and order. ..
. . .using all civil and military measures. . .
. . .as well as special powers allocated to them.
Mathieu Philippe. Born 5th August 1907 in Bordeaux
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Campaigns: Italy and Normandy
Member of the French Resistance
Served in Madagascar, Suez,
Indo-China and Algeria
On average lately, there have been
4.2 incidents per day. ..
. . .including attacks on individuals
and explosions
The problem, as usual, is:
One, the enemy. . .
Two, how to destroy him
There are 400,000 Arabs in Algiers
Are they all our enemies?
We know they're not
There's only a minority which rules by terror and violence
This is the enemy we have to isolate and destroy
A dangerous enemy moving both on the surface and below. . .
. . .using well-tried revolutionary tactics and original techniques.
Go ahead, Martin.
It's an unknown, unrecognisable enemy. . .
. . .which blends in with the people.
It is everywhere.
In the cafes, the Kasbah. . .
In the European quarter, in shops
and workshops
These films were taken by the police. . .
. . .with cameras hidden at the checkpoints
They thought they might come in useful, and indeed they do
To show the uselessness of certain methods!
Or at least their shortcomings.
I've chosen pictures taken shortly before. . .
. . .some recent terrorist incidents.
Amongst all these Arab men
and women. . .
. . .are those responsible.
But which ones?
How to recognize them?
Checking papers is ridiculous
If anyone is in order it's the terrorist.
Watch the soldier.
He's sure that basket contains something important
And he examines the contents very thoroughly!
Maybe the bomb was there, hidden in a false bottom.
We'll never know
That's enough, Martin
We have to start from zero
We know something of the organization's structure
Let's start from there.
It's a pyramid organization composed of various sections
which, in turn. . .
. . .are made up of a series of triangles
At the apex is the Chief of Staff
responsible to the political bureau.
He nominates someone to be responsible for one sector: No. 1
No. 1 selects another two:
Nos. 2 and 3
And so Triangle 1 is formed
Nos. 2 and 3 each select two men
Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7
Because of this structure,
each member of the organization knows only three other members.
The one who chose him. ..
. . .and the two he chose.
Contact is only in writing
That's why we don't know our enemy
Because, in fact,
they don't know each other
If we know him, we can eliminate him
The military angle is secondary
It's the 'police' side that matters
I know you dislike that word
But it's the only one which sums up our task
We must try to reconstruct the pyramid and identify the Chief.
The basis of our job is information.
The method,
interrogation
Conducted in such a way as to ensure we always get an answer
In this situation, false sentiment leads only to ridicule. . .
. . .and impotence
I'm sure all units understand
and will act accordingly.
Unfortunately it doesn't depend just on us.
We must have the town at our disposal
To sift through it. . .
. . .and to question everyone.
But we're up against a mass of laws and regulations being enforced. . .
as though Algiers was a holiday resort, not a battlefield
We've asked for carte blanche, but it's difficult to get
We need an incident which will legalize our actions.. .
. . .and make them feasible
We ourselves must create this opening. . .
. . .so our adversaries don't do it
for us, as I believe they might.
To all freedom fighters
After two years of bitter struggle. . .
in the city and in the mountain.
. . .the Algerian people are victorious.
On Monday 28th January. . .
. .the United Nations will
debate the Algerian question
The Organization will mobilize. . .
. . .to explain the importance of this to the people
For eight days from Monday
the FLN proclaims a general strike
There will be no armed action or incidents.
'Le Monde'! 'Le Monde'! Eight-day strike!
My money, please.
Strike!
Brothers, Algerians. . .
Having tried all methods
to avoid a UN debate on Algeria. . .
. . .the colonialists insist that the FLN represents only a minority.
Brothers & sisters
World opinion is behind us
Let us show we are united
Support the strike proclaimed by the FLN
For these eight days, do not enter the European quarter
Stay in the Kasbah.
Don't gather in closed places. . .
. . .thus facilitating round-ups
Shelter the poor and homeless in your houses
Stock up with food and water
- They seem calm - Yes, but they're restless
Like rats in a trap. .. we hope
Do you think the strike will be 100% ?
Certainly
So Mathieu, all going well?
- I hope so - What will you call the operation?
Well, General.. .
- Operation Champagne
- Operation Champagne, why not?
- Operation Champagne
Fine
They're beggars, unemployed, homeless
They'll stay here during the strike safe from police sweeps.
But I don't think they ought
to have been brought here.
- It's a mistake - Why?
Because you're here. We'd better change the place
- Don't you trust them? - You never know
All right, you decide
No. If I made the decisions you wouldn't be in Algiers now.
- Why? - It's not prudent
Ali, go with Ben M'Hidi to the Maison des Arbres
- Isn't he sleeping here? - No. Too many new faces around
Another one ready
Look at this for a hideout.
Seems like a wall
Look inside
No, you must go. It's late
They're old fighters. You'll be safe.
Hurry, Ali
The terrace is the shortest way.
All right, you can come.
Fine. They're waiting
- What's your view on the strike?
- It'll succeed
I think so too.
It has been well organized
But the French?
Obviously, they'll try everything to break it.
They'll do more than that
We've given them the chance
Understand what I mean?
Now they'll no longer grope in the dark.
Every striker. . .
. . .will be a recognizable enemy. . .
. . .a confessed criminal.
And they will go over onto the offensive
- Have you thought of that?
- No
Jaffer says you weren't in favour of the strike
- No, neither were my men.
- Why not?
Because they say we mustn't use arms.
You don't win wars with outrages.
Neither wars nor revolutions.
Terrorism serves to begin with
But later, the people themselves must move
That's the reason behind the need to strike
To mobilize all Algerians, to count them
To assess our strength
To show the UN?
Yes, the UN too
It might not be much use. . .
. . .but at least the UN will be able
to see our strength.
You know, Ali. ..
. . .it's hard to start a revolution
Even harder to continue it
And hardest of all to win it
But it's only afterwards,
when we have won.. .
. . .that the true difficulties begin
In short Ali,
there's still much to do
- You are not already tired?
- No
Come on; wake up!
Attention all vehicles!
Speed up the sweep.
Truck No. 1 : to El Biar
No. 2 : the gas works
No. 3 : the port
Attention. . .
All suspects to be sent to HQ
Move it.
That one
You, come here. Wait there
- On strike, eh?
- I'm not well
You're too scared to say, but you're with the FLN, aren't you?
- No. - What do you take me for?
The FLN wants you to strike and you won't speak?
Please yourself.
This one to HQ too, Gerard.
- You, come here - Are you deaf?
Move! At the double!
Get a move on !
It's now the fourth day,
and the general strike continues
The town is paralyzed, but there
have been no serious incidents
Calm reigns in the Arab quarter
I'll call you back
Mathieu's here
- Colonel. . . - I'm meeting the Prefect
- What's going on? - I'm just assessing the situation
Go and look for yourselves.
I've put all means at your disposal
The strike seems successful?
- It has missed its main aim - insurrection
- That wasn't its aim
- You believe the FLN?
Maybe. A general strike is convincing at the UN
The UN is far away.
How can it judge a strike's importance?
Bombs get heard. I'd do like them
What exactly is armed insurrection?
It's an inevitable stage in revolutionary war
After terrorism, armed insurrection follows.. .
. . .just as guerrilla tactics precede war proper.
- Dien Bien Phu? - Exactly.
But in Indo-China they won
- And here?
- It depends on you -On us?
-You want us to enlist? -God forbid!
Just write and write well
- It's not soldiers we lack - Then what?
Political will, which is sometimes present, sometimes not
But sometimes is not enough.
- What's Paris saying? - Just another article by Sartre
Why are the Sartres always on the other side?
- You don't like Sartre, Colonel? - No
But I'd like him even less as an enemy.
One, two, three, four follow me
Come on, hurry up
- What's going on? - They're singing
OK. Let's have it.
From the start, then you can go.
- Name? - Smain
- First name? - Ahmed
- District? - Second
- Be more precise - No. 2, the Kasbah, Algiers West
- Which group? - Third group
Third group; what was your job?
Responsible for the Sixth Squad
That'll do.
Day six of the strike People of the Kasbah. . .
The FLN prevents you from working
The FLN makes you shut your shops
The FLN wants to starve you and condemn you to misery
The FLN prevents you from working
People of the Kasbah. . .
. . .France is your motherland
Muhammed? Muhammed? Have you seen him?
Muhammed
The FLN wants to starve you and condemn you to misery.
People of the Kasbah,
rebel against the FLN
France has given you civilization and prosperity:
schools, streets, hospitals.
Algerians; go back to your job.
Show your love for your mother country
by disobeying the terrorists' orders.
Courage! God be with you
Courage! Algerians! Brothers!
Don't listen to what they say. Take courage!
Algeria will be free!
5th February 1957 Last day of the strike
Open the shop
Pull ! Faster!
The UN General Assembly. . .
after failing to obtain a majority on any motion put forward. .
. ..has decided there will be no direct intervention in Algeria
The UN, however, hopes that in a spirit of cooperation. . .
. . .a peaceful and just solution will be found. . .
. . .in keeping with UN Charter principles
Good. Well done
Now we can go to bed
The end of the strike
changes nothing
Keep the boys on duty
We must stay in the Kasbah 24 hours a day
Our work must continue
with no let-up
Any of you had a tapeworm?
It's a worm that grows to infinity
You can kill thousands of its segments. . .
. . .but if the head remains,
it immediately reproduces.
The FLN's the same
The head is the General Staff:
several people
If they are not eliminated,
we'll be back to zero. Here are four of them
I found these in the police files
I had them enlarged
Si Mourad
Ramel
Jaffer
Ali la Pointe
We must print a thousand copies and distribute them to our boys
Who else lives here?
I told you. My daughter's upstairs,
and my husband who's at work
- OK, Pierre. Let's go -All right
You can come out
There were a lot; ten this time.
- Paratroopers? - Yes
Did they come here on purpose?
No, by chance.
They only asked questions
Jibel Amalika has been arrested
Sheikh Abdullah has been arrested
People of the Kasbah,
the FLN has lost the battle
Rebel against this dying regime
Work with us to build a new Algeria
Moujid Ben Ali has been arrested
- What's wrong? - Nothing
Take courage
We'll split up. That will improve our chances
We must keep changing hideouts
We must replace those arrested. . .
. . .and get reorganized
And make ourselves felt. . .
As soon as possible
Now. Leave it to me
No. None of us
As long as we exist, the FLN exists
If we're caught there'll be nothing
From nothing you get nothing
Do something
When we've made new contacts
- How do we move? - We'll change methods
I'm getting out in three months
Hey, look
Halt!
Quick, hide us! We're being followed
Where? The house is so small.
In the well. God protect you
- Come. The well, it's nearly dry - Good
They didn't stop. They've gone
and the others are far away
Thanks
We'll contact the 2nd and 5th sectors
The 1st and 6th have had too many losses
The 3rd and 4th are reorganizing
It's enough to start with
25th February, 1957
You bastard ! You'll pay for the others!
Keep calm! Get back!
4th March, 1957
Enough photographs
Mr. Ben M'Hidi. Isn't it vile to use women's baskets..
to carry bombs to attack innocent victims?
Isn't it even more vile to drop napalm bombs. . .
.. .on defenceless villages, killing thousands more victims?
It would be easier for us if we had planes
Give me the bombers. . .
. . .and you can have the baskets
Mr. Williams wants to know. . . if the FLN has a chance
of defeating the French Army?
It has more chance defeating the French Army
than they have of changing the course of history
Colonel Mathieu has said
that you were arrested by chance
By mistake
The paratroopers. . .
. . .were looking for someone less important than you
Could you say why you were in that flat in Rue Debussy?
I can only say I wish I hadn't been.
Enough, gentlemen. It's late and we've work to do
Show over?
Correct
Before it backfires
Closed for having taken part in the strike
People of the Kasbah,
the rebellion is petering out
Ali Mohammed of FLN Sector 2
was killed this morning
People of Algiers. ..
Denounce the agitators
Abandon them
Count on the protection of the French Army
Colonel Mathieu. . .
The spokesman of the Resident Minister, M. Gorlin
states that Ben M'Hidi
hanged himself in his cell
by tearing up his shirt
and making it into a rope
which he tied to the bars of his window
Given his stated intention
to escape at the first opportunity
it was thought necessary
to keep the prisoner bound
hand and foot at all times
In your opinion, Colonel
Is a man in this condition capable of tearing his shirt,
making it into a rope
and hanging himself with it?
Ask the spokesman about that
I didn't make the statements
For my part,
I appreciated Ben M'Hidi's moral strength
his courage
and commitment to his own ideals
And so, notwithstanding the great danger he represented
I pay homage to his memory
Colonel Mathieu
There's been much talk, not only
of the paras' successes
but of the methods they're said to use.
Can you say something on this?
The successes are a result of those methods.
One presupposes the other
Excuse me, Colonel
I feel that in being excessively careful
my colleagues keep asking indirect questions
to which you can only reply indirectly
It would be better to call
a spade a spade.
If it's torture, let's say so.
I understand.
And you? You've no questions?
No, I would merely like
Let us try to be exact.
'Torture' doesn't appear in our orders
We use interrogation as the only valid police method
against a clandestine organization
The FLN asks its members to keep silent for 24 hours if they are captured
Then they can talk
In that time, the FLN can render any information useless
And us?
How should we question suspects?
Like the courts,
taking a few months over it?
Legality can be inconvenient
Is it legal to blow up public places?
Remember what Ben M'Hidi said when you asked him that
Believe me, gentlemen,
it's a vicious circle
We could talk for hours to no avail
because that is not the problem.
The problem is
the FLN want us out of Algeria and we
want to stay
There are different shades of opinion
but I think you all agree we should stay
When the rebellion began there were no shades of opinion
All the papers, even the leftist ones,
wanted it crushed
That's why we were sent here
And we are neither mad nor sadists
Those who call us "Fascists"
forget what many of us did in the Resistance
They call us "Nazis" but some of us are survivors of Dachau and Buchenwald
We are soldiers.
Our duty is to win
Thus, to be quite clear
I'll ask you a question myself
Must France stay in Algeria?
If the answer's still "yes"
then you must accept what that entails.
He's a doctor. Stabbed!
It's horrible!
Blast! No more ammo!
Look there!
Crush them! Crush them! Crush them!
26th August 1957
The Colonel's here
Don't play the hero. It's futile.
Pass me the megaphone
Ramel!
Si Mourad!
Listen
I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when we get you
You know we'll get you.
Give yourselves up and you won't be touched.
You'll have a fair trial.
- Do you hear? - Who's speaking?
Mathieu. Colonel Mathieu
We don't trust you
Come closer
Show yourself
Why don't you trust us?
Stand, so that we can see you.
With your hands still and in full view
OK. But we want the promise
about the trial in writing.
Give us a written promise Mathieu.
Then we'll surrender
How?
We'll lower our weapons in a basket
Ok
Here?
Yes, just there
Ready, Mathieu?
Yes, but first let's see you.
60. . . 59. . . 58. . .57
56. . . 55. . . 54. . . 53. . . 52. . .
We can see them now
Here.
You know that when I promise
I keep my word
The pig's tricked us!
Get a move on !
We'll get a move on all right!
Burn all the papers
24th September 1957
You never know
Who's Zakia?
- You? - Yes
Go up and tell Jaffer to surrender or I'll blow up the house
Convince him
if you value your house
- Understood? - Yes
Wait, or he'll kill you
Jaffer!
Zakia's coming up!
Don't shoot
Go now
Jaffer, I'm Zakia
Listen to me
They say if you don't come down they'll blow up the house.
Tell the Colonel he can blow up what he likes.
- Jaffer! - Go, I said!
He won't surrender.
He says: go ahead
OK. Join the others
Prepare the plastic.
As near as possible
Use a long fuse. We'll cut it later.
Give them continuous cover while they work.
You, keep your eyes open. Anything can happen, as we know.
It's quite pointless to die like this
Mathieu ! If you give me your word
not to touch anyone in this house
we'll come down.
I'd have hated to blow it up
Why?
Your picture and your file have been on my table for ages
I feel I know you quite well
You don't seem the type for empty gestures
You seem happy to have me alive
Yes, I am
Evidently I've given you an unexpected advantage
No, only the satisfaction of having guessed right
Technically. . .
. . .there is no longer an advantage.
It's over
What's she saying?
She says there's still Ali la Pointe.
I'm coming
I'll be right back
Go to bed, Omar
Tomorrow there'll be just us, me
Mahmoud, Hassiba,
and you
No one else is left.
Sadek will drive
Get out, place the bomb and return quickly
Mind they don't follow you.
Then we'll get out
Hassiba, followed by Mahmoud
and then me.
Wake up
You'll see some fireworks today.
- Nearly time, isn't it? - Yes
- Hassiba! - I'm ready
I heard a truck
So did I. But if it was Sadek he'd be here now.
How's your wife?
The same
Inside! Inside!
Outside, you! Get up!
Get up!
- Well? - All ready. I've evacuated the house
- Has he replied? - Nothing. Absolute silence
I thought as much
Ali
Ali la Pointe!
At least get the others out.
You know we'll blow you up
The boy will only go to the reformatory
Why let him die?
He's still here? Get him out
Ali
Ali, I'll give you thirty seconds.
What do you hope for?
Anyway, you've already lost.
Think hard.
Thirty seconds from now
Who wants to go out?
- What will you do? - I won't bargain
You four stay here and go down when I signal
- Well everything ready? - All ready, General
Get back
You two cover him and take care.
Now the tapeworm's headless
- Satisfied, Mathieu? - Yes, sir
The FLN in Algiers is decapitated
I think we'll hear no more of it
At least for the time being
For ever, we hope
After all, they're good people.
We got on well for 130 years
Why couldn't it continue?
Algeria is not just Algiers
- No, Algiers isn't all of Algeria - That's true
but for now let's be content with Algiers
Things are much easier in the mountains
Goodbye, General Goodbye, Mathieu.
We'll see you at HQ this afternoon.
Yes, sir
1 1th December 1960
It is not known why,
nor the pretext for it
but after two years of relative quiet
with the war just continuing mostly in the mountains,
trouble has broken out again
Nobody knows why or how
I've phoned Tunis
I spoke personally with the FLN
in exile, but they know nothing.
This morning for the first time
their green and white flags have appeared.
Thousands of flags probably sewn overnight
It's hard to call them flags.
They're sheets, shirts, rags
but flags nevertheless
It's very tense today
Despite pressure from extreme colonialists,
the government has given orders
not to use arms except as a last resort
Today attempts were made to
break into the European quarter
There were many deaths,
but calm has now returned.
However, the Kasbah still echoes with those strange cries
Rhythmic, nightmarish
The surprising unanimity of these demonstrations
has had a marked effect on French public opinion
According to Paris, the more sensitive political groups
are gravitating towards better relations with Algeria.
21st December 1960 Last day of demonstrations
Listen to me!
Return to your homes!
What do you want?
Two more years of struggle were still to pass
Then, on 2nd July 1962
independence was won and the Algerian nation was born.
THE END
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