10 War Films That Broke All The Rules

Directed by Queimada's Gille Pontecorvo, 1966's The Battle of Algiers is a piece of film history as well as a subversive war movie.

An intense and unsparing depiction of guerilla warfare in action, the film was released shortly after Algeria won independence from its colonial oppressors in France, despite the best attempts (read: torture) of paratroopers to maintain control of the region.

With a cast of non professional actors, many of whom were survivors of the actual occupation, the film subverted the traditional presentation of war film narratives by utilizing a docudrama style. Aping the techniques of Italian neo-realist cinema, the film follows both the National Liberation Front and the paratroopers using violence to quell their fight for freedom.

Despite the eventual outcome of the real life conflict, this acclaimed film condemns excessive violence committed by both factions, and manages to humanize the paratroopers involved despite the aforementioned torture. A bracing, brilliant film, it's a testament to film's power as both a narrative medium and a historical document.