Loaded Language: FLN Dipper?

This engaging film (shot very skillfully in a nice dreamy and fuzzy black-and-white) presents various important characters in the tumultuous Algerian Revolution and the Muslim struggle for independence from France.

Ben M'hidi is a prominent terrorist-leader of the radical rebellious pro-Muslim Algerian FLN, Ali La Pointe is the gritty street-wise wandered-turned-guerilla for the FLN, and Lieutenant-Colonel Mathieu is the officious but diligent French commander seeking to root out and destroy all Muslim malcontents (and enemies of France) in Algeria.

I read about the Algerian Revolution in a history course at Dartmouth, and part of the course curriculum was Frantz Fanon's canonical novel on the subject of anti-French colonialism-related resistance, "The Wretched of the Earth" [1961].

"The Battle of Algiers" [1966] does a terrific job of inviting movie audiences into the 'humanist conversational intrigue' surrounding the anti-imperial struggle in Algeria.

This is a great 'cheat film' too for those reading Fanon and looking for some kind of 'reading complement.'

This film makes me think of the 'street-gossip value' of comparable films such as "The Terrorist" [1997] and "The Devil's Own" [1997].

The question is, does the controversial screenplay demonize or canonize the FLN? In my opinion, I think the film handles political sensitivity nicely and inspires fans/students to derive their own interpretations with 'conversational cutting.'



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BEN M'HIDI: We recruit veiled Muslim women for our cause.

ALI LA POINTE: The men are then obligated to do the 'dirty-work.'

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MATHIEU: Terrorism is not glorious.

BEN M'HIDI: When France listens, the FLN will listen.

ALI LA POINTE: Algerian men are frustrated.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MATHIEU: Unsanctioned violence is foolish.

BEN M'HIDI: We must primarily be students.

ALI LA POINTE: I consider myself to be a poet!

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MATHIEU: The people crave music.

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The Terrorist (1997 Film):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terrorist_(1997_film)