"The Battle of Algiers" Criterion

(aka 'The Battle of Algiers" or "Maarakat madinat al Jazaer')

directed by Gillo Pontecorvo
Algeria / Italy 1965

One of the most influential films in the history of political cinema, Gillo Pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers focuses on the harrowing events of 1957, a key year in Algeria’s struggle for independence from France. Shot in the streets of Algiers in documentary style, the film vividly recreates the tumultuous Algerian uprising against the occupying French in the 1950s. As violence escalates on both sides, the French torture prisoners for information and the Algerians resort to terrorism in their quest for independence. Children shoot soldiers at point-blank range; women plant bombs in cafés. The French win the battle, but ultimately lose the war as the Algerian people demonstrate that they will no longer be suppressed.

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 13th, 1967 - Sweden

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Criterion Collection (3 disc) - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
CRITERION BOXSET - CLICK TO ENLARGE
Distribution	Criterion Collection Pine # 249 - Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	2:01:20
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.38 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	French / Arabic (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion / Home Vision Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: DISC 1: THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS • New high-definition digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Marcello Gratti, with restored image and sound, and enhanced for widescreen televisions • Theatrical and re-release trailers • Poster gallery DISC 2: PONTECORVO AND THE FILM • The Making of The Battle of Algiers: an exclusive new documentary created for this release guided by Pontecorvo biographer Irene Bignardi and featuring interviews with the director himself, cinematographer Marcello Gatti, composer Ennio Morricone, editor Mario Morra, actors Jean Martin and Saadi Yacef, and film critic Tullio Kezich • The Dictatorship of Truth: a 37-minute documentary narrated by Edward Said about the relationship between Pontecorvo’s politics and filmmaking style • Five Directors: a discussion about the The Battle of Algiers influence, style, and importance featuring, Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Julian Schnabel, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone DISC 3: THE FILM AND HISTORY • Remembering History: a new documentary featuring interviews with historians Alistair Horne, Hugh Roberts and Benjamin Stora, former FLN members Zohra Drif-Bitat, Mohammed Harbi and Saadi Yacef, and writer and torture victim, Henri Alleg (The Question) • “Etats d’Armes”—a 30-minute excerpt from Patrick Rotman’s 3-part documentary, L’Ennemi Intime, which focuses on the horror of the French-Algerian War. It features interviews with various members of the French military during the French-Algerian War, including General Jacques Massu, General Roger Trinquier, General Paul Aussaresses, and others • How to Win the Battle But Lose the War of Ideas: a conversation about the contemporary relevance of The Battle of Algiers between former National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and author of Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror, Richard A. Clarke, former State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Michael A. Sheehan, and Chief of Investigative Projects for ABC News, Christopher E. Isham • Return to Algiers (1992, 55 minutes): three decades following its emergence as a nation, director Gillo Pontecorvo and his son return to Algeria to talk with its people about independence • Plus: a booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Peter Matthews, a reprinted interview with writer Franco Solinas, brief biographies on the key figures in the French-Algerian War, and more DVD Release Date: October 12th, 2004 See packaging photos above Chapters: 35

Comments:

Some might consider this Criterion's greatest achievement to date. My only complaint - the anamorphic image can tend to look slightly saturated (over contrasted) at times, but overall it has a wonderful tight theatrical feel to it. Audio is in its original format. Subtitles are perfect. Black levels are piercing. The extras are, as you can see, boundless. Both film and this DVD can be considered masterpieces. A formidable triumph for Criterion and a possible consideration for DVD of the Year! out of