Blu-Ray Review: Battle Of Algiers

★★★★★

The Battle of Algiers made in 1966 by the Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo, it tells the story of the events that happened in capital of French Algeria between November 1954 and December 1960. It’s done in fictionalized documentary style that when it was shown in the United States they literally had to have a disclaimer that read, “not one feet of newsreel footage was used”. It shot in Black & White instead of colour, which of course heightened the newsreel feel of the film.

The film’s first scene features somebody getting tortured and from the get go you know your in for a ride. The film for the most part about the French occupations of Algeria oppressing the Native Algerian people in their capital. The Algerians fight back with urban guerrilla warfare until the French bring in paratroopers to hunt the urban guerrilla army the “National Liberation Front” (FNL). The film depicts the French racistly attacking the Algerian natives and The French are consistently seen torturing and eventually murdering FNL fighters.

The film is extremely astonishing to experience and your often just in awe by how on earth they actually pulled it off. You literally see explosives going off very close to the actors who actually for the most part were non-professional actors

Pontecorvo tried to get the actors to react to the situations they were put in rather than just “act”. This technique is still often used for example in many of Mike Leigh’s films. It makes you feel like your are infact watching this war happening in real time in front of your eyes instead of watching a film. The film originally was supposed to be a “balanced” film. They eventually told it though the Algerian point of view so it obviously is on their side.

The film’s use of sound and music is particularly striking which incorporates Ennio Morricone’s score and it's extremely overwhelming. In some scenes they mixed the chanting of Algerian people and Morricone’s score to enhance the emotional power of these scenes. Pontecorvo also radically used the same piece of music for 2 different scenes, which featured the French and Algerian people getting murdered.

The film’s guerrilla techniques actually inspired Radical far left terrorist organizations like the Black Panthers, Red Army Fraction and IRA. It was shown in the Algerian football team before they played England to inspire them, they held England to 0-0 draw. The film has grown a whole new life since 2003 with the 2nd Gulf War with many critics drawing parallels with the Algerian war and the 2nd Gulf War. It has been screened a lot and re-issued in the last few years with this in mind.

The Battle of Algiers is one of the few films that perfectly blends the line with was is real and what is actually a film, the film really should be mandatory viewing for all.

Ian Schultz

Rating:15
Directed by:  Gillo Pontecorvo
Cast:Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Ugo Paletti
Buy/Pre-order:The Battle of Algiers On Blu-ray

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THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS BLU-RAY 50th Anniversary Edition - Argent Films Ltd. Published via LongTail.tv

Grim Trailer For Kim Ki-Duk's PIETA

Every so often we get film makers that seem to be more popular outside there homeland than actually in there homelands, Kim Ki-Duk is one of those directors. Regarded as one of the forefathers of the Korean wave who has had success with the likes of  3 Iron, Bad Guy, The Coast Guard, Spring Summer Fall Winter And Spring .Then after a 3 year stint away from the camera he returned to documentary film making with Arirang making an appearance at Cannes 2011 but after mentoring certain young filmmakers it looks like the director may finally find some success on his own feet with his next film.

Pieta looks like to be a dark psychological drama which may not be up there with the dark twisted films we know and love from Korea but enough to say the film maker is on form. Grim but beautifully shot.

he film is about a brutal man who works for a cruel loan shark. Without any family or loved ones to worry about, he has no fear or hesitation when it comes to carrying out his evil deeds. One day, a mysterious woman shows up in his life, saying she is his mother. At first, he doesn't believe her, having no memories of a mother. But as his attachment to her grows, he discovers her gruesome yet sad secret.

source: Hancinema

UK Superhero Movie Flies into USA, Electric Man Coming To Comic-Con!

"The Maltese Falcon meets The IT Crowd" - Allan Hunter, Screen Daily.
"Really f**king funny" - Screened
"Quirky little comedy gem." - Media Muppet
"An intelligent and well choreographed storyline" - Cinehouse

Electric Man, the micro-budget comedy shot in Edinburgh, has been selected for the prestigious San Diego Comic Con International Film Festival on July 13th – and is the only UK feature film to play at the world famous comic convention this year.  Shot on a micro budget, the film has already gained BAFTA New Talent Awards nominations for its script and score as well as being shortlisted for Best Feature at the Celtic Media Festival. Selection for San Diego Comic Con places the film with the industry big hitters. Director David Barras explains:

“This is a game changer for us. We had already planned for digital distribution later in the year but we were going to limit that to the UK. Comic Con is enormous and we're now looking to give the film a global launchpad.”
The movie was selected as only one of three feature films to play this year's festival from over 200 initial entries.
"As a small independent movie we have to pick and choose where we go. But San Diego was the holy grail for us. Yes, it has blown a massive hole in the budget but we would be mad not to go. Who wouldn't want to be at the same convention as Iron Man 3 and the new Superman movie?"

Cinema goers in London will have the opportunity to see for themselves what all the fuss is about on Sunday 8th July, when the film plays at The Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Place. The film has already played to a sold out audience at the cinema in May but the team are bring it back to coincide with the London Film and Comic Con and give the capital's movie goers a sneak peak before they fly to California for the film's big night at Comic Con. Director David Barras will be joined by members of the cast, the writer and the composer to introduce the film and take part in a Q & A. And there'll be a few giveaways on the night.
Electric Man is already a UK success story but the movie is far from your typical British fare. In an industry that is used to producing Scottish films that are usually about shooting up or shooting grouse, Electric Man is a distinct change of pace. Billed as ‘The Maltese Falcon meets Clerks’ the film makers have produced something set in the UK but with a definite American flavour.

The film is still seeking distribution and is looking for sponsors to support a planned UK tour of independent cinemas in the autumn.

About Electric Man
The movie was shot in Edinburgh in late 2010 and made ready for release during 2011. It premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival in February 2012 and had a successful tour of Scotland thereafter.
The film tells the story of Jazz and Wolf, two cash-strapped comic shop owners who need £5,000 in a hurry if they are to save their comic shop in Edinburgh. As luck would have it they chance across a copy of Electric Man issue 1 which just happens to be worth £100,000. But there are other people after the comic and it is soon lost, stolen, switched and switched again as Jazz and Wolf try to save both their business and their love lives.

UK fans will get the chance to see the film this Sunday at the Prince Charles Cinema in London, and I wondered whether you might be able to flag up the screening and the SDCC selection news with a piece on The People's Movies, and mention it to your followers on twitter and Facebook? You can find out more information here ,  or why not head over to the films facebook page or twitter and grab yourself a pair of free tickets in the competitions they run there - @electricmanfilm facebook.com/pages/Electric-Man

You may have also noticed one of the films taglines at the star of the post looked very familiar,yes it's a quote from cinehouse we caught the film at the Glasgow Film Festival and you can read David's review here.

If you are going to Comic Con (12-15 July 2012) in San Diego, California you can find out more info on the film and convention here