All language subtitles for The.Battle.of.Algiers.1966.PROPER.720p.BluRay.x264-NODLABS.eng

GOLDEN LION
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 1966

INTERNATIONAL FILM
CRITICS AWARD 1966

AWARD FROM
THE CITY OF VENICE 1966

Couldn't you have talked sooner?

It would've gone easier for you.

He finally came clean.

Give him some coffee.

Don't worry.

Drink this.
You'll feel better.

Don't take it so hard, fella.

At ease.

Is it true?
- Looks like it. 3 rue des Abderames.

Get him dressed.

Buck up.

It's all over now.
Just one last little effort.

Can you stand?

Let go of him.

Here, put this on.

It'll suit you fine.

We're going to the Casbah now.
They won't recognize you in that.

Show us Ali La Pointe's hideout.

Then you'll be free.

Give him a cap and dress him.

You're inducted!

Cut the clowning, Lagloy!

Let's go.

Knock it off!
Wanna go through another round?

Quit fooling around.
Pull yourself together.

THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS

Maybe they don't know we're here.

Ali La Pointe, the house
is surrounded. It's useless.

Give yourselves up.
Let the boy and the woman out first.

Then the other man with you.
After that, you come out.

Leave your weapons behind.

No tricks. You're done for.

We have you covered.
You don't have a chance. Got that?

You hear me, Ali?

Listen good! You're the last one.
It's all over.

The organization's finished.

Everyone's dead or in prison.

If you come out now,
you'll get a fair trial.

Make up your mind!

THE EUROPEAN QUARTER

THE CASBAH

National Liberation Front (FLN),
Communiqué No. 1:

People of Algeria, our combat
is directed against colonialism.

Our aim: Independence and
restoration of the Algerian state,

in accordance with Islamic principles
and the respect of basic liberties,

regardless of race or religion.

To avoid bloodshed, we propose
that the French authorities

negotiate with us
our right to self-determination.

Algerians, it is your duty to save
your country and restore its liberty.

Its victory will be yours.

Forward, brothers! Unite!
The FLN calls you to arms.

Ladies and gents, place your bets.

This loses, this loses...

Ace wins.

500 francs.

Your turn, madam.

Ace wins, this one loses.

He's always there!

- What's his big hurry?
- Stop him.

Bash the bastard's head in!

Omar, Ali.

Alias Ali La Pointe.
Born January 15, 1930, in Miliana.

Illiterate.

Occupation: Laborer, bricklayer, boxer.
Currently unemployed.

Military status: Draft dodger.

1942, Algiers Juvenile Court,

one year in reformatory
for vandalism.

1944, Oran Juvenile Court,

two years for disorderly conduct.

1949, Court of Algiers,
eight-month prison term

for insulting
a police officer on duty.

Allah is great!

Long live Algeria!

Shut up! There he is.

Keep quiet.

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Beat it!

"Men have two faces.
One smiles, the other cries."

They sent you?

Yes, they sent me.

Here.

Wait!

Come back here.

Know how to read?
- Sure.

Read it to me.

"There's a Moorish café
on rue Randon, in the Casbah.

Merabi, the owner,
is a police informer.

Every afternoon at 5:00,
a French policeman stops by.

He stays a few minutes, long enough
to drink a coffee and get information.

Then he leaves.
You are to kill the policeman."

- Not Merabi?
- No, the policeman.

Okay.

"You can't go wrong.

Right next to the café
you'll see a girl with a basket.

You'll both follow the policeman.

At the right moment,
she'll hand you a revolver.

You just have to pull the trigger."

Let go of me!

Watch me, brothers!

So, you're afraid now!

Look how the organization
deals with traitors.

- You bitch! You set me up.
- Careful, the police!

- Now explain!
- If they don't catch us first.

Who sent you?
Take me to him.

- He's waiting.
- Where?

You'll see, if we don't get caught.

You go first.
I'll be right behind you.

What if you were a traitor?
We had to be sure.

- The gun was empty.
- Say you'd been a police spy,

the FLN contacts you in prison,
you pretend to be for the cause,

and the French let you escape.

Then they shoot me?

Blanks.

You escape, go to the address
the FLN gives you in prison,

and infiltrate us.

And who are you?

Jaffar. El-hadi Jaffar.

To join us you had to do a job.

If I'd told you to kill
the bar owner, an Algerian,

the cops would've let you kill him
even though he's a stoolie.

It wouldn't have proved your loyalty.

If I told you to kill the cop,

the French
would never have allowed it.

If you had been one of them,
you wouldn't have done it.

But I didn't kill him.

No, but you tried.
That's the important thing.

You didn't trust me!

Come on, don't get excited.

I said to shoot him in the back.

No way!

You still don't understand.

Explain it better.

Okay, I'll explain.

First, we need to get organized

and secure our hideouts.

Then we can take action.

The organization's getting stronger,

but there are still too many
drunks, whores, junkies,

people who talk too much,
people ready to sell us out.

We must win them over
or eliminate them.

We need to clean house first,
organize the country.

Only then can we take on
our real enemy. You understand, Ali?

APRIL 1956

National Liberation Front,

Communiqué No. 24:

People of Algeria,
the Colonial Administration

is responsible not only
for impoverishing our people

but also for corrupting and degrading
our brothers and sisters,

who have lost their sense of dignity.

The FLN is leading a campaign
to eradicate this scourge

and requests the population's help
and cooperation.

This is the first step
towards independence.

As of today, the FLN
assumes responsibility

for the physical and moral well-being
of the Algerian people

and has therefore decided

to ban the sale and use
of all drugs and alcoholic beverages

and to ban
prostitution and procuring.

Offenders will be punished. Repeat
offenders will be sentenced to death.

Wino! Wino!

Don't you know
drugs are forbidden?

- Why?
- Don't do it again.

Have you seen Hassan El-Blidi?

You seen Hassan El-Blidi?
Tell him I'm looking for him.

Seen Hassan?

If you see Hassan El-Blidi,
tell him I'm looking for him.

Ali, where've you been?

- Is Hassan here?
- He left very early. Need something?

If you see him,
tell him I'm looking for him.

Ali! How're you doing?

Stay there. Don't move.

- Take it easy.
- I told you not to move.

What are you afraid of?

I fear only God.

What's all this about?

There's nothing between us.

We're friends.
Have you forgotten?

We were friends.

What's happened to you?

You're sentenced to death.

Now I understand.

You've sentenced me to death.

What are they paying you?

Only one thing can save you.

You've been warned twice.
This is your last warning.

What do you mean?

Work for the FLN.

Get lost!

Don't try it! Take a good look.
Things will change in the Casbah.

Take a good look.
We'll clean this place up.

Now beat it!

And watch yourselves.

JUNE 10, 1956

Stay outside and keep watch.

Everything all right?
- Fine.

Be seated.

We'll skip the formalities.
You know why.

The day will come when we will have
our weddings in the open.

Remember, we are at war
against colonialism.

A strong army has occupied
our country for 130 years.

This is why the FLN
has to make decisions

concerning the civil life
of the Algerian people.

With this marriage
we fulfill our duty,

a duty of resistance.

And now,
Mahmud and Fatiha,

come forward.

Sign here.

May God grant you good fortune.
Sign here.

On behalf of the FLN,
my sincerest congratulations.

Make yourselves comfortable.

JUNE 20, 1956 - 10:32 A.M.

Come here!

What is it? Calm down.

Come in here.

Hey, Antoine...

Take them in to see the captain.

Yes, sir, but they didn't get
a search warrant.

Rue d'lsly?

They followed them some distance
but then lost them.

Of course, sir,
but that's in your precinct.

It's not their job.

Rue Marengo?
We do have some suspects.

The DA first demands
an official request.

Yes, sir.

But I don't have enough men.

I understand.

But if you could...

The prefect can't.

But couldn't you?

Okay.

They can slaughter all of us!

Right.

3:00 p. M:
Attempted attack against a patrol.

Location: Rue Luciani.
Weapon: 7.65mm revolver.

4:00 p. M:
Attack on territorial guard,

intersection of rue Consulaire
and Avenue Général Laquière.

For Paris, the solution is to put
Algiers under tight police control,

guard police stations,
close off streets.

I don't agree.

So, Corbière, where were we?

"Intersection of rue Consulaire
and Avenue Général Laquière."

The governor general decrees:

Article 1: Purchase of medication
for the treatment of gunshot wounds

must be authorized
by the prefecture.

Article 2:
Health care institutions

must keep the police informed

of all wounded patients
admitted for treatment.

From the prefecture of Algiers:

In recent days, dozens of attacks
have taken place in the city.

The perpetrators are known
to come from the Muslim quarters.

Each time, they quickly find refuge
in these areas.

Consequently, to restore order,

the prefect has decided
to seal off the Arab quarters.

Checkpoints will be set up
at all access points.

Civilians must show ID
and may be subject to searches.

In line!

- Going back to the barracks?
- No, I've got two more days.

Don't touch me!

Keep your hands off me!

Never touch their women.

JULY 20, 1956 - 11:20 A.M.

What are you up to?

I'm meeting friends at the beach.

- You still there?
- This is my route.

Come here.

Beat it.

You go that way!
You, this way!

Same old story!
It's the government's fault.

What do they care?

Murder all the bastards!
Then we'll have some peace!

There he is!

I'm sure it's him!

- Where?
- Down there.

Get him!

Murderer! Murderer!

He looks like a dirty fellagha!

Where are you headed?

- Filthy Arab!
- Don't let him get away!

He's getting away! Stop him!

I saw him!

Stop him!

He's getting away!

Culprit: Laknan Abdullah.

Laborer, married, three children.
Address: 8 rue de Thèbes.

How many today?
- Seven attacks, three dead.

One copy for the prefect,
the press, the archives and for you.

Thanks. Night, Corbière.

Good night, sir.

Say, Corbière...

where's rue de Thèbes?

In the upper Casbah, I think.

Good night, Mommy.

Good night, children.

Fatma, why aren't they in bed?

They're just on their way.

We must get going.

What's your hurry?
You and your card games!

Can't you play here?

- One more for the road?
- Sure, one more.

Sorry, we're already late.

Good night everyone.
Hurry up.

Good-bye, Lucien.
Don't keep Henri up too late.

Get in back.

- Is it far?
- We're almost there.

- Can we go through?
- Too late.

Curfew's already started.

Let us through. He's with me.

Very well, sir. Go on through.

- No. 8, right?
- Yes. Make it snappy.

Murderers! Murderers!

Ali! Stop!

Jaffar says you must stop.

Listen to me, Ali.
Don't go down there.

The army will slaughter us.

Listen to me.
- Get out of here!

Halt!

Stay calm!
The FLN will avenge you!

The FLN will avenge you!

Stand guard on the roof.
You, come in.

- Is this all right?
- Fine.

Fine.

No good? Listen.

I'll take my son. It'll work.

Okay, but use the rue du Divan
checkpoint. It's easier there.

Then meet up with the others.

Air France, rue Mauritania.

The café, rue Michelet.

The milk bar, rue d'lsly.

The bomb timers are short.

They'll be set outside the Casbah.

Taleb is waiting for you
at the fish market.

But then you must hurry.
You only have 30 minutes to place them.

Good luck.

God be with you.

Halt!

- Your papers.
- I forgot them.

- Over there. Move it!
- They're at home.

Let me go get them!

- Get back.
- I'm in a hurry.

I said wait!

Get back or no one goes through.

- Let me through.
- Wait there.

- It's not fair.
- I said wait.

Excuse me.
Excuse me, sir.

May I go through, sir?
- Go ahead.

Excuse me.

It's all right.

Hands up.

Go on, madam.

Go on.

I'll only be an hour.
He's a good boy.

Thank you.

Going to the beach, miss?

- How'd you know?
- Oh, I just guessed.

Care for some company?

Not today. I'm meeting friends.

What a shame!

Maybe another time?

Who knows?

Good luck.

A Coke, please.

Would you like to sit down?

One hundred francs.

Leaving, miss?

What a pity.

Attention, please.

Flight 432 to Paris
will be delayed for 20 minutes.

Care for another martini?

What's going on?

A propane tank must've exploded.

The paratroopers are here!

JANUARY 10, 1957

Jean Charrot, Inspector General

on special assignment,

presided over a special
meeting convened

to organize the fight
against rebel activity.

Major decisions were made concerning
the maintenance of law and order

and the protection of persons
and private property.

General Carelle
of the 10th Airborne Division

will be in charge
of maintaining order in Algiers.

He will command
all civil and military forces

and exercise special powers
by official decree.

Mathieu, Philippe.
Born August 5, 1907, in Bordeaux.

Rank: Lieutenant colonel.

Campaigns: Italy and Normandy.

Member of an anti-Nazi
resistance movement.

Expeditions: Madagascar and Suez.
Wars: Indochina and Algeria.

So we now average
4.2 attacks a day.

We must distinguish between attacks
on individuals and bombings.

As usual, the problem involves:

First, the adversary,
and second, the means to destroy him.

There are 400,000 Arabs
in Algiers.

Are they all our enemies?
We know they're not.

But a small minority holds sway
by means of terror and violence.

We must deal with this minority
in order to isolate and destroy it.

It's a dangerous enemy that
works in the open and underground,

using tried-and-true revolutionary
methods as well as original tactics.

It's a faceless enemy, unrecognizable,

blending in with hundreds of others.

It is everywhere. In cafés,
in the alleys of the Casbah,

or in the very streets
of the European quarter.

This footage was taken by the police

with cameras hidden
around Casbah checkpoints.

The police thought it might come in
handy, and indeed it does,

to show the futility
of certain methods,

or at least their drawbacks.

I deliberately chose footage
taken shortly before

a number of recent
terrorist attacks.

Among all these Arab men
and women

are the perpetrators.

But who are they?

How can we recognize them?

ID checks are ludicrous.
If anyone's papers are in order,

it's the terrorist's.

Note the cameraman's hunch.
He's sure there's something in that box.

And his film provides us
with the details.

There might have been
a false bottom with a bomb inside.

We'll never know.

That's enough, Martin.

We have to start from scratch.

The only information we have
concerns the organization's structure.

Let's start from there.

It's a pyramid organization

made up of a series of sections.
These sections, in turn,

are made up of triangles.

At the apex
is the Executive Bureau.

The military head
of the Executive Bureau

finds a competent person
and names him section head: No. 1.

No. 1 finds two others:
Nos. 2 and 3.

This makes up the first triangle.

Now Nos. 2 and 3
each select two men:

Nos. 4,

5, 6 and 7.

The reason for these geometrics
is that each organization member

knows only three other members:

The one who chose him

and the two he himself chose.

Contact is made only in writing.

That's why we don't know
our adversaries.

Because, in point of fact,
they don't know each other.

To know them is to eliminate them.

Consequently, the purely military
aspect of the problem is secondary.

More important
is the policing aspect.

I know you dislike that word.

But it's the only one
that describes the work at hand.

We must investigate
to reconstruct

the pyramid and identify
the Executive Bureau.

The basis of our job
is intelligence.

The method: Interrogation.

Conducted in such a way as
to ensure we always get an answer.

In our situation, humane
considerations can only lead to despair

and confusion.

I'm sure all units will understand
and act accordingly.

Unfortunately, success doesn't
depend only on us.

The city must be at our disposal.

We must comb it thoroughly

and question all inhabitants.

But that's where we run
into the maze of laws still in force,

as if Algiers were a holiday resort
and not a battlefield.

We've requested a free hand,
but it's hard to obtain.

So we need an occasion
that will justify our intervention

and make it possible.

We ourselves must create
this occasion.

Unless our adversary provides us
with one, as it seems to be doing now.

To all militants:

After two years of bitter struggle
in the cities and in the mountains,

the Algerian people
have won a great victory.

On Monday, January 28,

the United Nations will open debate
on the Algerian question.

Our entire organization will mobilize
to explain this event's importance.

Beginning Monday, the FLN is calling
a week-long general strike.

During this period,
all armed action will be suspended.

Le Monde! Week-long strike!

The money, please.

We did it!

People of Algeria,

colonial powers, failing to block
UN debate on the Algerian question,

will attempt to demonstrate that
the FLN represents only a minority.

World opinion is with us.

Let us show our unity.

Support the strike
proclaimed by the FLN.

During this entire week,
stay away from European quarters.

Do not leave the Casbah.
Avoid gathering in closed places,

as this will facilitate raids.

Give shelter to the poor
and homeless.

Stock up on food and water
for a week.

- They seem calm.
- But you can feel something's up.

Like rabbits in a cage.
Just as I hoped.

Think they'll obey
the order to strike?

I think so.

- Is it going the way you wanted?
- I hope so.

What are you calling the operation?

Well, General...

DRINK CHAMPAGNE

- "Operation Champagne."
- Why not?

Operation Champagne it is.

The homeless, the unemployed,
the beggars.

We've arranged for them to stay
with families during the strike.

That way they'll be
safe from police raids.

But I don't think they should
have been brought here.

It's a mistake.
- Why?

You're here. We'd better
move you somewhere else.

- Don't you trust them?
- I do, but you never know.

All right. You're in charge.

If I were in charge,
you wouldn't be in Algiers now.

- Duty first?
- Caution is best.

Ali, take Ben M'Hidi
to the Maison des Arbres.

Isn't he staying here?

No. Go with him.
I'll wait for you to come back.

What do you think?

How's this for a hideout?
Looks like a wall.

Take a look inside.

Not now. It's late.

Si Ben M'Hidi,
I'll be in touch tomorrow.

Ali, go first.

Cut through the mosque.

The coast is clear.

We can't do anything for a week.

What do you think of the strike?

I think it'll succeed.

I think so, too.
It's been well organized.

What will the French do?

Obviously, they'll try everything
to break it.

They'll do more than that,

because we've given them
an opportunity.

You know what I mean?

Now they'll no longer
be groping in the dark.

Every striker

will be a recognizable enemy.

A certified criminal.
The French will take the offensive.

Understand what I mean?
- Yes.

Jaffar says you weren't
in favor of the strike.

- No, I wasn't.
- Why not?

Because we were ordered
not to use arms.

Acts of violence don't win wars.

Neither wars nor revolutions.

Terrorism is useful as a start.

But then, the people
themselves must act.

That's the rationale
behind this strike.

To mobilize all Algerians,

to assess our strength.

To prove it to the UN?

Yes, to prove it to the UN.

It may not do any good,

but at least the UN will be able
to gauge our strength.

You know, Ali,

it's hard enough to start
a revolution,

even harder to sustain it,

and hardest of all to win it.

But it's only afterwards,
once we've won,

that the real difficulties begin.

In short, there's still much to do.

You're not tired, Ali?

No.

Wake up!

Everybody out!

You bastards!
We'll teach you to strike!

Attention all vehicles!

Load the requisitioned workers!
Truck No. 1 to El Biar.

No. 2, the gasworks.

No. 3, the docks.

Attention!

Dispatch all suspects
to headquarters.

That one.

You, come here. Stop.

On strike, are you?
- I'm sick.

You're too scared to admit it.
Admit you're with the FLN.

You're one of them.

Take me for an idiot?
Think I can't tell?

The FLN wants you to strike
and you won't talk? You dirty Arab!

Suit yourself.
Gérard, take him away.

- Come with me.
- Are you deaf?

Everyone back to work!

Get a move on!

Day four:
The general strike continues.

All activity has come to a halt.
No serious incident has been reported.

All is quiet in the Muslim quarter.

I'll call you back.

Mathieu's here.

- Some questions...
- I'm meeting with the prefect.

- What's going on?
- I'm just assessing the situation.

Go and see for yourselves.
You're free to move around.

- The strike seems successful.
- It missed its main target.

Insurrection?

That isn't the aim.
- You believe the FLN?

It's plausible this time.
A strike might convince the UN.

The UN is far away.
How can it gauge a strike's magnitude?

Bombs would be more practical.
That would be my choice.

What would
armed insurrection mean now?

What it always means: An inevitable
phase in revolutionary warfare.

After terrorism
comes armed insurrection.

Just as guerrilla warfare leads
to warfare proper.

Dien Bien Phu?

Exactly.
But in Indochina they won.

- And here?
- That depends on you.

On us?
You intend to sign us up?

God forbid! Just do your reporting
and do it well.

It's not warriors we need.
- Then what?

Political will, which is sometimes
there and sometimes isn't.

Sometimes it's not enough.
What did Paris say yesterday?

Nothing. Another article by Sartre.

Why are the Sartres
always born on the other side?

Then you like Sartre?

No, but I like him
even less as a foe.

1, 2, 3, 4...
Come with me.

Move it.

- What's that?
- The dance hall.

Let's get it over with.
Repeat what you said and you can go.

Name?
- Smain.

- First name?
- Ahmed.

- Section?
- Second section.

- Be more precise.
- Second section.

Casbah, Algiers West.

- Which group?
- Third group.

- What was your role?
- Head of the sixth cell.

That'll do.

DAY SIX OF THE STRIKE

People of the Casbah,

the FLN wants to stop you
from working.

The FLN is forcing you
to close your shops.

The FLN wants to starve you
and condemn you to poverty.

The FLN wants to stop you
from working.

People of the Casbah,

France is your motherland.

Mohammed! Mohammed!
Have you seen him?

The FLN wants to starve you
and condemn you to poverty.

People of the Casbah,
resist the FLN's orders.

Thank God you're home.

God bless you, my children.

Have you seen my brother Said?

Algerians! Brothers! Take heart!

The FLN tells you not to be afraid!

Don't worry, we're winning.

The FLN is on your side.

Long live Algeria!

FEBRUARY 5, 1957

FINAL DAY OF THE STRIKE

Open the shop.

Go on!

Faster!

The UN General Assembly,

all motions having failed
to obtain a majority,

has passed a resolution ruling out
any direct intervention in Algeria.

The UN, however, hopes that
in a spirit of cooperation,

a peaceful, democratic
and fair solution will be found

in keeping with the principles
of the UN charter.

Good. Well done.

Now we can go turn in.

The end of the strike changes nothing.
Instructions remain the same.

Give your boys the usual orders.

We must occupy the Casbah
24 hours a day.

We must continue our work here,
without respite.

Any of you ever suffer from tapeworm?

It's a worm that can grow infinitely.

You can destroy
its thousands of segments

but as long as the head remains,
it rebuilds and proliferates.

The FLN is similarly organized.

The head is the Executive Bureau.
Several persons.

As long as they're not eliminated,
we're back to zero.

Here are four of them.

I found these in the police records.

I had the snapshots blown up.

Si Murad.

Ramel.

Jaffar.

Ali La Pointe.

Print up a thousand copies
and distribute them to our men.

Who else lives here?

I told you. My daughter upstairs,
and my husband, who's at work.

Okay, Pierre. Let's go.

They're gone.

There were ten this time.

- Paratroopers?
- Yes.

Did a traitor bring them here?

They came alone.

They asked questions.
They didn't hurt anyone.

Jibela Malika has been arrested.

Sheik Abdullah has been arrested...

People of the Casbah,
the FLN has lost the battle.

Stand up to its dying authority.

Work with us to build
a new Algeria.

Mujid Ben Ali has been arrested.

- What's wrong?
- They arrested him.

Take courage.

We'll split up.
We must change our hideouts.

We must reestablish our contacts.

We must replace
those arrested and killed

and reorganize our groups.

We have to make our presence felt.

That'll come later.

No. Right now.
Leave it to me.

No. None of us will do anything.

We have to resist
as much as we can,

without giving the enemy
a chance to catch us. Agreed?

We have to do something.

That's why we must reestablish
our contacts first.

- How do we move?
- I'll take care of that.

I'll be out in three months.

Hey, look!

Quick, hide us!
We're being followed.

Where? On the terrace?

Come in, brothers.
God protect you.

Hide in the well.
God be with you.

They're gone. Wait until I call.
Then you can come up.

Thank you.

The first section's dead.
There's no one left.

We lost contact with the second.

The third is reorganizing.

All that's left is the fourth.
It's enough to start over with.

FEBRUARY 25, 1957

Bastard!
You'll pay for the others!

Keep calm! Get back!

MARCH 4, 1957

No more photographs.

Mr. Ben M'Hidi,

isn't it cowardly to use
your women's baskets

to carry bombs, which have
taken so many innocent lives?

Isn't it even more cowardly
to attack defenseless villages

with napalm bombs that kill
many thousands of times more?

Obviously, planes would
make things easier for us.

Give us your bombers, sir,

and you can have our baskets.

The FLN has more of a chance
of defeating the French army

than the French have
of changing the course of history.

According to a declaration
by Colonel Mathieu,

you were arrested by chance.
Practically by mistake.

The paratroopers

were looking for someone
less important than you.

Can you tell us why you were
in that apartment

on rue Debussy?

All I can say is
I wish I'd never set foot there.

That'll be all.
It's late and we have work to do.

So the show's over?

Yes, it's over.

Before it has
the opposite effect.

People of the Casbah,
the rebellion is dying out.

Ali Mohammed, head of
FLN Section 2, was killed this morning.

People of Algiers,

turn in the agitators.

Disassociate yourselves
from the rebel organization.

The army is protecting you.
Trust in it.

Colonel Mathieu,

the spokesman for
the Resident Minister, Mr. Gorlin,

states that Larbi Ben M'Hidi

hanged himself in his cell

using strips of his shirt
that he made into a rope

and 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,

in such a condition, can a man

tear his shirt up,
make a rope out of it,

and hang himself from a window?

Ask the spokesman about that.

I didn't make such a statement.

For my part, I had the chance
to appreciate the moral fiber,

courage and commitment
of Ben M'Hidi to his own ideals.

And so, notwithstanding
the great danger he represented,

I pay tribute to his memory.

There's been a lot of talk, not only
of the paratroopers' success,

but also of the methods
they're said to use.

Can you comment on this?

Their success is the result
of these methods.

One depends on the other.

Excuse me, Colonel.

It seems to be that, perhaps
out of an excess of caution,

my colleagues keep asking you
indirect questions

to which you can only reply
in a roundabout way.

It would be better to call...

a spade a spade.
So let's talk about torture.

I understand.
And you? Have you no question?

They've all been asked.
I'd just like more precise answers.

Let's try to be precise.
The word "torture" isn't used in our orders.

We use interrogation
as the only valid police method

against clandestine activity.

The FLN asks all its members,

in case of capture,
to remain silent for 24 hours.

Then they may talk.

This gives the FLN time
to render any information useless.

And us? What form of questioning
must we adopt?

Civil law procedures,

which take months
for a mere misdemeanor?

Legality can be inconvenient.

Is it legal to set off bombs
in public places?

Remember Ben M'Hidi's answer
when you asked him the question.

No, gentlemen, believe me.
It's a vicious circle.

We could talk for hours to no avail,
because that isn't the problem.

The problem is this:

The FLN wants to throw us out
of Algeria, and we want to stay.

Even with slight shades of opinion,

you all agree that we must stay.

When the FLN rebellion began,
there were no shades at all.

Every paper, the communist press
included, wanted it crushed.

We're here for that reason alone.

We're neither madmen nor sadists.

Those who call us fascists

forget the role many of us
played in the Resistance.

Those who call us Nazis

don't know that some of us survived
Dachau and Buchenwald.

We are soldiers.
Our duty is to win.

Therefore, to be precise,

it's my turn to ask a question.

Should France stay in Algeria?

If your answer is still yes,

then you must accept
all the consequences.

A doctor!
He's been stabbed!

I'm out of ammo!

Look there!

Run them down!

AUGUST 26, 1957

Make way for the colonel.

There's no point playing the hero.
Hand me the megaphone.

Ramel. Si Murad.

Listen:

I wouldn't want to be
in your shoes when you're captured.

You know we'll get you.

Surrender and you won't be harmed.
You'll get a fair trial.

Do you hear?
- Who's speaking?

Mathieu. Colonel Mathieu.

We don't trust you.

Come closer.

Let us see you.

Why don't you trust me?

Stand up so that we can see you.

Keep your hands still
and in sight.

But we want the promise
of a fair trial in writing.

Give us a written promise.
Then we'll surrender.

How do I get it to you?

We'll lower our guns in a basket.

Fair enough.
I'm make this statement in writing.

Finished?

Yes, finished.

- Ready, Mathieu?
- Yes, but let's see you first.

28, 27, 26,

25, 24, 23...

We can see them now.
Go ahead.

Here.

You know that when I give my word,
I keep it.

The bastard! He got away!

Faster, dirty Arab!

Take this, you dog!

Burn all the papers.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1957

Don't leave a trace.

Which of you is Zakia?

You?

Go tell Jaffar to surrender

or we'll blow up the house
and everyone in it.

Try to convince him
if you want to keep your house.

Got that?

Wait. You'll get yourself killed.

Jaffar!

Zakia's coming up.
I wouldn't shoot if I were you.

Go on now.

Jaffar.

Listen to me.

They say if you don't come down,

they'll blow up the house.

You can tell them to blow up
whatever they want.

Go tell them!

He says he won't surrender,
that you can blow it all up.

All right. Join the others.

Prepare the explosives.

Get as close as possible,
but don't take risks.

Use a long fuse, then cut it.

Give them cover while they work.

You, keep your eyes open.
Anything can happen, as we know.

It's really pointless
to die like this.

Mathieu! If you give me your word
not to hurt anyone in this house,

we'll come down.

I'd have hated to blow you all up.

Why?

Your picture and your file

have been on my desk for months.

I have the feeling I know you a bit.

You don't strike me as the kind
for empty gestures.

You seem satisfied
to have me alive.

Yes, I am.

I thought you'd regret it.
I gave you an unexpected advantage.

No, only the satisfaction
of having had the right hunch.

Technically speaking,

we can't talk about advantages.
The game's over.

Monster! Hypocrite! You're wrong.
Ali La Pointe is still in the Casbah.

What's she saying?

She says Ali La Pointe is still free.

- Come in.
- I'm coming.

You're tired. Go rest.

Omar, go to bed.

We have a job tomorrow.

Myself, Mahmud, Hassiba...

and you.

There's no one else left.
Sadek will drive.

You get out, plant the bomb,
and come back fast.

Be sure they don't follow you.
Then we'll get out.

Hassiba first, then Mahmud.
I'll see to the rest.

Wake up.

Sleep well?
Get ready to go.

- Is it time?
- Almost.

Hassiba!
- I'm ready.

I heard a truck.

So did I. But if it was Sadek,
he'd be here by now.

- How's your wife?
- She's fine.

Inside!

Outside!

On your feet!

Well?

All ready.
I had the house evacuated.

- Has he answered?
- Absolute silence.

I thought as much.

Ali La Pointe!

At least let the others out,
or you'll all be blown up.

The boy will just go
to the reformatory for a while.

Why let him die?

He's still here?
Take him away.

Ali... Ali La Pointe!

You have another 30 seconds.
What are you hoping for?

Anyway, you've lost.

Think hard. Thirty seconds.

Thirty seconds from now.

Whoever wants to can go.

- What'll you do?
- I don't trust them.

You four stay here.
Come down when I give the signal.

- Everything ready?
- All ready, sir.

Stand back.

You two cover him and be careful.
You never know.

The tapeworm's headless now.

Satisfied, Mathieu?
- Yes, sir.

- The FLN is decapitated in Algiers.
- We'll hear no more of it.

At least for the time being.
- Forever, let's hope.

They're basically decent people.
We got on fine for 130 years.

Why shouldn't it continue?
- But Algiers isn't all of Algeria.

No, Algiers isn't all Algeria.

True, but for now
let's settle for Algiers.

Things are much easier
in the mountains.

Good-bye, sir.

Good-bye, Mathieu.
I'll see you this afternoon.

Yes, sir.

DECEMBER 11, 1960

For some unknown reason,
due to some obscure motive,

after two years of relative quiet,

with the war contained mostly

in the mountains, disturbances
broke out again without warning,

and nobody knows why or how.

I phoned Tunis.

I spoke to an exiled FLN chief,
but he knows nothing either.

Long live Algeria!

This morning, for the first time,
out came flags with crescent and star.

Thousands of flags,

probably made overnight.

"Flags" is hardly the word.
More like torn sheets, shirts, rags -

but flags nevertheless.

We're marching for freedom!

The situation is more tense today.

Despite pressure

from the most rigid colonialists,
the government had given orders

not to open fire
except as a last resort.

Attempts were made this afternoon
to descend into the European quarter.

There were several casualties,
but things seem to have calmed down.

The Muslim quarters still echo

with those unintelligible
and frightening rhythmic cries.

The surprising unity
of these demonstrations

has made a deep impression
on French public opinion.

According to Paris, a significant
segment of the political class

is in favor of seeking
a new relationship with Algeria.

DECEMBER 21, 1960

LAST DAY OF DEMONSTRATIONS

Listen to me!

Return to your homes!

What do you want?

Independence!

Our pride!

We want our freedom!

Two more years of struggle
still lay ahead.

Then, on July 2, 1962,
with its independence,

the Algerian nation was born.

Based on a True Story by
SAADI YACEF