The Battle of Algiers

Banned in France for five years because of its subject matter, this film by Gillo Pontecorvo tells the story of the Algerian people's opposition to the French occupying troops during the Algerian War. Although the film follows at times the point of view of the revolutionary and guerrilla leader Ali La Pointe, the director chose not to restrict himself to a single protagonist, focusing on the conflict through a collective lens. By casting mostly non-professional actors and filming on location, using documentary-style editing, Pontecorvo created a motion picture that is still considered one of the most authentic and educational films about war.