10 Most Ambitious War Films Ever Made

The Battle of Algiers was an Italian war film co-written and directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. It was part of a film style popular at the time called neorealism. Italian neorealism sought to deal with social issues like poverty, injustice, oppression, and the desperation of the working class. So yeah, cheery stuff.

The film followed the rebels' actions during the Algerian War between France and Algeria that took place from 1954 to 1962. True to the neorealism form, Pontecorvo filmed the movie on location in North Africa. He also shot the film in a black and white newsreel style, giving the finished cut the feel and look of a documentary.

The movie portrays the titular Battle of Algiers, a conflict that took place in the capital city of Algeria. Pontecorvo was so dedicated to authenticity that he hired mostly non-professional actors. They were locals who had lived through the actual battle.

The Battle of Algiers depicts an authentic look at North African guerilla fighters' lives and the brutal tactics used by French colonial powers to try and stamp out rebellion. This was one of the first films to depict the kind of urban warfare that became a characteristic of all war in the 21st century.