This film is another example of a colony fighting for independence from a Western
powerhouse. This particular film depicts the Algerian struggle for independence from France
during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The movie presents the FLN, National Liberation Front,
as group of Algerian freedom fighters that resorts to terrorism as the only means to boot French
soldiers from Algeria. The story revolves around Ali la Pointe, a highranking lieutenant of FLN.
Under the guidance of his mentor, Ali tries to unify the Arabs in an area called Casbah to fight
the resistance of the French. The FLN starts off as a terrorist group that attacks and kills
policemen in the streets and precincts in broad daylight. However, there is a transition from
terrorism to nonviolent protest through the week long protest. The Algerians hope to show their
will power to the UN leaders in the hope that the UN decides to help kick the French army out.
The film uses story and imagery to accurately depict the situation. The film producer
uses composite characters based on real life events to portray the horrors experienced by the
Algerians. Despite the legal ramifications, the colonel uses torture techniques to uncover the
power structure of the FLN. The French troops waterboard, electrocute, and use fire to make
the prisoners talk. These scenes are not gory in nature; however, the audience can understand
the amount of pain these individuals are enduring. It also uses dialogue to comment on the
hatred between the Algerians and French. At the height of the resistance, checkpoints were
added to screen Arab individuals who were coming to the European quarters. The French would
ridicule verbally and physically the poor and homeless Algerians. Men and women would attack
Arab adults and children after bombings to express their disgust.