Original subtitles

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!

Long live Algeria! 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

some more precise answers.

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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