GOLDEN LION VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 1966
INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS AWARD 1966
AWARD FROM THE CITY OF VENICE 1966
Couldn't you have talked sooner?
It would've gone easier for you.
He finally came clean.
Give him some coffee.
Don't worry.
Drink this. You'll feel better.
Don't take it so hard, fella.
At ease.
Is it true? - Looks like it. 3 rue des Abderames.
Get him dressed.
Buck up.
It's all over now. Just one last little effort.
Can you stand?
Let go of him.
Here, put this on.
It'll suit you fine.
We're going to the Casbah now. They won't recognize you in that.
Show us Ali La Pointe's hideout.
Then you'll be free.
Give him a cap and dress him.
You're inducted!
Cut the clowning, Lagloy!
Let's go.
Knock it off! Wanna go through another round?
Quit fooling around. Pull yourself together.
THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS
Maybe they don't know we're here.
Ali La Pointe, the house is surrounded. It's useless.
Give yourselves up. Let the boy and the woman out first.
Then the other man with you. After that, you come out.
Leave your weapons behind.
No tricks. You're done for.
We have you covered. You don't have a chance. Got that?
You hear me, Ali?
Listen good! You're the last one. It's all over.
The organization's finished.
Everyone's dead or in prison.
If you come out now, you'll get a fair trial.
Make up your mind!
THE EUROPEAN QUARTER
National Liberation Front (FLN), Communiqué No. 1:
People of Algeria, our combat is directed against colonialism.
Our aim: independence and restoration of the Algerian state,
in accordance with Islamic principles and the respect of basic liberties,
regardless of race or religion.
To avoid bloodshed, we propose that the French authorities
negotiate with us our right to self-determination.
Algerians, it is your duty to save your country and restore its liberty.
Its victory will be yours.
Forward, brothers! Unite! The FLN calls you to arms.
Ladies and gents, place your bets.
This loses, this loses...
Ace wins.
500 francs.
Your turn, madam.
Ace wins, this one loses.
He's always there!
- What's his big hurry? - Stop him.
Bash the bastard's head in!
Omar, Ali.
Alias Ali La Pointe. Born January 15, 1930, in Miliana.
Illiterate.
Occupation: laborer, bricklayer, boxer. Currently unemployed.
Military status: draft dodger.
1942, Algiers Juvenile Court,
one year in reformatory for vandalism.
1944, Oran Juvenile Court,
two years for disorderly conduct.
1949, Court of Algiers, eight-month prison term
for insulting a police officer on duty.
Allah is great!
Long live Algeria!
Shut up! There he is.
Keep quiet.
FIVE MONTHS LATER
Beat it!
"Men have two faces. One smiles, the other cries."
They sent you?
Yes, they sent me.
Here.
Wait!
Come back here.
Know how to read? - Sure.
Read it to me.
"There's a Moorish café on rue Randon, in the Casbah.
Merabi, the owner, is a police informer.
Every afternoon at 5:00, a French policeman stops by.
He stays a few minutes, long enough to drink a coffee and get information.
Then he leaves. You are to kill the policeman."
- Not Merabi? - No, the policeman.
Okay.
"You can't go wrong.
Right next to the café you'll see a girl with a basket.
You'll both follow the policeman.
At the right moment, she'll hand you a revolver.
You just have to pull the trigger."
Let go of me!
Watch me, brothers!
So, you're afraid now!
Look how the organization deals with traitors.
- You bitch! You set me up. - Careful, the police!
- Now explain! - If they don't catch us first.
Who sent you? Take me to him.
- He's waiting. - Where?
You'll see, if we don't get caught.
You go first. I'll be right behind you.
What if you were a traitor? We had to be sure.
- The gun was empty. - Say you'd been a police spy,
the FLN contacts you in prison, you pretend to be for the cause,
and the French let you escape.
Then they shoot me?
Blanks.
You escape, go to the address the FLN gives you in prison,
and infiltrate us.
And who are you?
Jaffar. El-hadi Jaffar.
To join us you had to do a job.
If I'd told you to kill the bar owner, an Algerian,
the cops would've let you kill him even though he's a stoolie.
It wouldn't have proved your loyalty.
If I told you to kill the cop,
the French would never have allowed it.
If you had been one of them, you wouldn't have done it.
But I didn't kill him.
No, but you tried. That's the important thing.
You didn't trust me!
Come on, don't get excited.
I said to shoot him in the back.
No way!
You still don't understand.
Explain it better.
Okay, I'll explain.
First, we need to get organized
and secure our hideouts.
Then we can take action.
The organization's getting stronger,
but there are still too many drunks, whores, junkies,
people who talk too much, people ready to sell us out.
We must win them over or eliminate them.
We need to clean house first, organize the country.
Only then can we take on our real enemy. You understand, Ali?
APRIL 1956
National Liberation Front,
Communiqué No. 24:
People of Algeria, the Colonial Administration
is responsible not only for impoverishing our people
but also for corrupting and degrading our brothers and sisters,
who have lost their sense of dignity.
The FLN is leading a campaign to eradicate this scourge
and requests the population's help and cooperation.
This is the first step towards independence.
As of today, the FLN assumes responsibility
for the physical and moral well-being of the Algerian people
and has therefore decided
to ban the sale and use of all drugs and alcoholic beverages
and to ban prostitution and procuring.
Offenders will be punished. Repeat offenders will be sentenced to death.
Wino! Wino!
Don't you know drugs are forbidden?
- Why? - Don't do it again.
Have you seen Hassan El-Blidi?
You seen Hassan El-Blidi? Tell him I'm looking for him.
Seen Hassan?
If you see Hassan El-Blidi, tell him I'm looking for him.
Ali, where've you been?
- Is Hassan here? - He left very early. Need something?
If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him.
Ali! How're you doing?
Stay there. Don't move.
- Take it easy. - I told you not to move.
What are you afraid of?
I fear only God.
What's all this about?
There's nothing between us.
We're friends. Have you forgotten?
We were friends.
What's happened to you?
You're sentenced to death.
Now I understand.
You've sentenced me to death.
What are they paying you?
Only one thing can save you.
You've been warned twice. This is your last warning.
What do you mean?
Work for the FLN.
Get lost!
Don't try it! Take a good look. Things will change in the Casbah.
Take a good look. We'll clean this place up.
Now beat it!
And watch yourselves.
JUNE 10, 1956
Stay outside and keep watch.
Everything all right? - Fine.
Be seated.
We'll skip the formalities. You know why.
The day will come when we will have our weddings in the open.
Remember, we are at war against colonialism.
A strong army has occupied our country for 130 years.
This is why the FLN has to make decisions
concerning the civil life of the Algerian people.
With this marriage we fulfill our duty,
a duty of resistance.
And now, Mahmud and Fatiha,
come forward.
Sign here.
May God grant you good fortune. Sign here.
On behalf of the FLN, my sincerest congratulations.
Make yourselves comfortable.
JUNE 20, 1956 - 10:32 A.M.
Come here!
What is it? Calm down.
Come in here.
Hey, Antoine...
Take them in to see the captain.
Yes, sir, but they didn't get a search warrant.
Rue d'Isly?
They followed them some distance but then lost them.
Of course, sir, but that's in your precinct.
It's not their job.
Rue Marengo? We do have some suspects.
The DA first demands an official request.
Yes, sir.
But I don't have enough men.
I understand.
But if you could...
The prefect can't.
But couldn't you...?
Okay.
They can slaughter all of us!
Right.
3:00 p.m.: attempted attack against a patrol.
Location: rue Luciani. Weapon: 7.65 mm revolver.
4:00 p.m.: attack on territorial guard,
intersection of rue Consulaire and Avenue Général Laquière.
For Paris, the solution is to put Algiers under tight police control,
guard police stations, close off streets.
I don't agree.
So, Corbière, where were we?
"Intersection of rue Consulaire and Avenue Général Laquière."
The governor general decrees:
Article 1: Purchase of medication for the treatment of gunshot wounds
must be authorized by the prefecture.
Article 2: Health care institutions
must keep the police informed
of all wounded patients admitted for treatment.
From the prefecture of Algiers:
In recent days, dozens of attacks have taken place in the city.
The perpetrators are known to come from the Muslim quarters.
Each time, they quickly find refuge in these areas.
Consequently, to restore order,
the prefect has decided to seal off the Arab quarters.
Checkpoints will be set up at all access points.
Civilians must show ID and may be subject to searches.
In line!
- Going back to the barracks? - No, I've got two more days.
Don't touch me!
Keep your hands off me!
Never touch their women.
JULY 20, 1956 - 11:20 A.M.
What are you up to?
I'm meeting friends at the beach.
- You still there? - This is my route.
Come here.
Beat it.
You go that way! You, this way!
Same old story! It's the government's fault.
What do they care?
Murder all the bastards! Then we'll have some peace!
There he is!
I'm sure it's him!
- Where? - Down there.
Get him!
Murderer! Murderer!
He looks like a dirty fellagha!
Where are you headed?
- Filthy Arab! - Don't let him get away!
He's getting away! Stop him!
I saw him!
Stop him!
He's getting away!
Culprit: Laknan Abdullah.
Laborer, married, three children. Address: 8 rue de Thèbes.
How many today? - Seven attacks, three dead.
One copy for the prefect, the press, the archives and for you.
Thanks. Night, Corbière.
Good night, sir.
Say, Corbière...
where's rue de Thèbes?
In the upper Casbah, I think.
Good night, Mommy.
Good night, children.
Fatma, why aren't they in bed?
They're just on their way.
We must get going.
What's your hurry? You and your card games!
Can't you play here?
- One more for the road? - Sure, one more.
Sorry, we're already late.
Good night everyone. Hurry up.
Good-bye, Lucien. Don't keep Henri up too late.
Get in back.
- Is it far? - We're almost there.
- Can we go through? - Too late.
Curfew's already started.
Let us through. He's with me.
Very well, sir. Go on through.
- No. 8, right? - Yes. Make it snappy.
Murderers! Murderers!
Ali! Stop!
Jaffar says you must stop.
Listen to me, Ali. Don't go down there.
The army will slaughter us.
Listen to me. - Get out of here!
Halt!
Stay calm! The FLN will avenge you!
Stand guard on the roof. You, come in.
- Is this all right? - Fine.
Fine.
No good? Listen.
I'll take my son. It'll work.
Okay, but use the rue du Divan checkpoint. It's easier there.
Then meet up with the others.
Air France, rue Mauritania.
The café, rue Michelet.
The milk bar, rue d'Isly.
The bomb timers are short.
They'll be set outside the Casbah.
Taleb is waiting for you at the fish market.
But then you must hurry. You only have 30 minutes to place them.
Good luck.
God be with you.
Halt!
- Your papers. - I forgot them.
- Over there. Move it! - They're at home.
Let me go get them!
- Get back. - I'm in a hurry.
I said wait!
Get back or no one goes through.
- Let me through. - Wait there.
- It's not fair. - I said wait.
Excuse me. Excuse me, sir.
May I go through, sir? - Go ahead.
Excuse me.
It's all right.
Hands up.
Go on, madam.
Go on.
I'll only be an hour. He's a good boy.
Thank you.
Going to the beach, miss?
- How'd you know? - Oh, I just guessed.
Care for some company?
Not today. I'm meeting friends.
What a shame!
Maybe another time?
Who knows?
Good luck.
A Coke, please.
Would you like to sit down?
One hundred francs.
Leaving, miss?
What a pity.
Attention, please.
Flight 432 to Paris will be delayed for 20 minutes.
Care for another martini?
What's going on?
A propane tank must've exploded.