Introduction
Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe physical or mental pain and suffering upon a person (Peters 2). Torture is morally and ethically wrong and is against international law and human rights conventions, despite the fact that it may seem like an effective way to get information (Peters 142). As a result, it is illegal in all circumstances.
Literature on torture
Edward, in his book “Torture: An Expert’s Confrontation with an Everyday Evil” discusses torture and its role in Western society from ancient times to the present. Meanwhile, Manfred et al. analyze the Convention and its provisions in their book “The United Nations Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol: A Commentary”. In order to prevent torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, the Optional Protocol to the Convention establishes a system of routine inspections of detention facilities by independent international and national bodies (Nowak et al.). Furthermore, in her book “The Prevention of Torture: An Ecological Approach,” Danielle Celermajer takes a multidisciplinary approach to examining the issue of torture. The book argues that torture is both a violation of individual rights and a sign of more significant societal issues like systemic inequality and a culture of violence (Celermajer).
The Battle of Algiers
Five significant terms mentioned in the movie The Battle of Algiers are FLN, the group waging armed conflict to wrest Algeria for France (Pontecorvo 00:03:25-00:04:00); paratroopers, the French military force tasked with putting down the uprising in Algiers (Pontecorvo 00:31:30-00:32:00); casbah, the FLN fighters’ stronghold in Algiers’ historic old town (Pontecorvo 00:13:00-00:14:00); bombing campaign, the FLN’s plan to attack public spaces in order to pressure the French to leave Algeria (Pontecorvo 00:05:59-00:06:30); Col. Mathieu, a French officer who uses brutal methods, such as torture, to put an end to the insurgency (Pontecorvo 00:23:00-00:24:00). I selected these phrases because they are essential to the conflict in the film and highlight the main players and tactics.
The themes in The Battle of Algiers
In the film The Battle of Algiers, themes like colonialism, nationalism, terrorism, and resistance can be found. The film depicts the Algerian people’s fight for independence from French colonial rule through armed conflict and terrorism, as well as the French military’s violent and torturous attempts to put an end to the uprising. The film emphasizes the intricate political and ethical issues at stake in these conflicts, such as those related to power, oppression, and justice.
The role of Algerian women
The FLN fighters were supported and housed by Algerian women who also took part in combat, giving them a significant role in the Algerian resistance movement. Women are depicted in the film passing messages, helping the wounded, and smuggling bombs. Their efforts were crucial to the FLN’s campaign’s success, and their courage and sacrifice pushed the boundaries of conventional gender roles and paved the way for greater equality and opportunities for women in Algerian society.
Jean-Paul Sartre
French philosopher, author, and political activist Jean-Paul Sartre was a member of the existentialist movement. His criticism of colonialism and imperialism was unreserved, and he backed Algeria’s fight for independence from France. Because of his writings on colonialism and his support for anti-colonial movements, he is relevant to the film The Battle of Algiers. He makes the case that only through revolutionary struggle can the colonized achieve true freedom and dignity in his well-known essay “Colonialism and Neocolonialism,” which examines colonialism’s psychological and ideological effects on both the colonized and the colonizers. The FLN’s fight against French colonialism and their attempts to reclaim their national identity and autonomy in the film contain echoes of Sartre’s ideas.
Conclusion
Five directors discuss the film The Battle of Algiers in the video and share their thoughts on its themes and significance. In general, the filmmakers concur that the film is a potent and significant piece of art and that its themes and messages are just as pertinent now as they were when it was first released. The film’s examination of topics like nationalism, terrorism, and colonialism continues to strike a chord with viewers everywhere, and its influence on the study of political and social movements as well as the art of cinema is undeniable.
Works Cited
The Battle of Algiers. Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, Rizzoli Film, 1966. Web.
Peters, Edward. Torture: An Expert’s Confrontation with an Everyday Evil. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018.
Nowak, Manfred, et al. The United Nations Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol: A Commentary. Oxford University Press, 2019.
Celermajer, Danielle. The Prevention of Torture: An Ecological Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2018.