Couldn't you have talked sooner? It would have been better for you
So, he's finally talked. Give him some coffee
All right, don't worry. Drink up, it'll do you good
Buck up now. Here
At ease
Is it true? - Probably. 3 Rue des Abderames
Dress him
Come on, it's all over now, I assure you
Can you stand?
Let go of him
Here, put it on
It'll fit you well
They won't recognise you like this in the Kasbah, understand?
Show us where La Pointe is hiding and then you'll be free
Give him a cap
Nationalised!
Don't be a fool
Let's go
Shut up. Do you want us to start again?
Come on now. Pull yourself together
THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS
Who wants to go out?
Ali la Pointe, the house is surrounded. It's useless
Surrender. Let the boy and the woman come out first
Then your companion and yourself
Leave your weapons there
No tricks, you're beaten
We've got you covered. You don't stand a chance. Understand?
Do you hear me, Ali?
Listen, you're the last one. There's nothing you can do
The organization's finished
Everyone's dead, or in prison
If you come out now, you'll have a proper trial. Surrender, Ali!
Algiers, 1954
The European city
The Kasbah
National Liberation Front (FLN), Communiqu No.1
Citizens of Algeria, our fight is against colonialism
The aim- independence and restoration of the Algerian state...
... based on Muslim precepts and respect for fundamental rights...
... regardless of race or religion
In order to avoid bloodshed, we propose to the French...
... fair talks bringing recognition of our right to self-government
Algerians, it is your duty to restore your country's freedom
You will win
Unite, brothers! The National Liberation Front calls you to arms
The King loses, the Queen wins...
Place your bets
50 francs
Your turn, Madame
This one wins, this one loses
There he is!
He's in a rush - Stop him
Illiterate
Occupation; general labourer, boxer. Presently unemployed
Previous record as follows...
1942. Algiers Juvenile Court; one year's reformatory for vandalism
1944. Orane Juvenile Court; two years for public disorder
1949. Algiers Assizes; sentenced to eight months'prison...
... for resisting arrest
God is mighty!
Long live Algeria!
Here he comes
Keep quiet
Five months later
Scram! - Men have two faces...
They sent you?
Yes, they sent me
Come here
Can you read? Read it
"There's a Moorish caf at 40, Rue Randon
"Merabi, the owner, is a police informer
"Every day at five a French policeman goes to see him
"He stays a few minutes, pretending to have a cup of coffee
"Then he leaves. You must kill the policeman"
- Not Merabi? - No, the policeman
OK
"You can't go wrong
"Right next to the caf you'll see a girl...
"...and a policeman nearby
"At the right moment she'll give you...
"...a gun...
"...and you shoot him"
Right, I give the orders now
Look, brothers! Look at this piece of dirt
You bitch! You set me up - Let's get away
Now explain! - See if they followed us
Who planned this? Take me to him
He's waiting - Where?
I'll take you there if we don't get caught
Move. You go first, I'll follow
We had to be sure you weren't a spy
With an empty gun?
Let's suppose you were a spy
The FLN contact you in prison. You pretend to be for the cause...
...and the French let you escape
Shooting at me?
It could be fixed. You escape, go to the address given you in prison...
...and get to know me
What's your name?
Jaffer. Lahadi Jaffer
To join us you had to do a job
The barman is an Algerian
The cops would let you kill him...
...even though he's a "stool"
But this would prove your loyalty
That's why I chose the cop
The French wouldn't allow that
If you were one of them...
...you wouldn't have done it
I didn't
You couldn't, but you tried, that's the important thing
And nearly got caught
Come on. You're exaggerating. Your orders were to shoot in the back
I didn't know
You don't understand
Explain. Why didn't you let me kill him?
Well, we're not ready yet
We need a safe place to go from and to hide in
There's the Kasbah, but it's still not safe
Too many drunks, whores, junkies. People who talk too much
Uncommitted people, ready to sell us out
We must convince them or eliminate them
We must think of ourselves first and clean out the Kasbah
Then we can think about the French. Do you understand?
April 1956
National Liberation Front
Communiqu No.24
People of Algeria, the Colonial Administration...
... is responsible not only for the misery of our people...
... but also for the vices of many of our brothers and sisters
Vices which make them lose all dignity
The FLN has decided to wipe out this scourge
It calls on the people to help in this struggle...
... as it is a prerequisite to gaining independence
From today the FLN assumes responsibility...
... for the physical and moral health of the Algerian people
The FLN has decided...
... to prohibit the sale and use of all drugs and alcoholic drink
Prostitution and pimping are forbidden
Offenders will be punished
Those who persist will be put to death
You know drugs are forbidden
Why? - Just do without
Have you seen Hassan el Bridi?
Seen Hassan el Bridi?
Have you seen Hassan? - No
If you see Hassan tell him I'm looking for him
Ali, what's the matter?
Is Hassan here? - No, he left very early. Why?
If you see him tell him I need him
Ali, hello!
Stand still! Don't move your hands
I never carry weapons - I know
Are you afraid of these?
Don't move
Why are you afraid?
We've always been friends. I almost brought you up
That's true
What's happened to you? - You're condemned to death
So that's what it's come to
I could die of laughter
How much do they pay you?
Nothing. They've warned you twice. This is the last time. Decide
What? What must I decide?
To work for the FLN
Try and convince me
Stop! Take a good look. No one does as he likes in the Kasbah any more
Not even Hassan, still less you scum
Now get out
And spread the word
10th June 1956
Stay outside and keep watch
Is everything all right? - Fine
Sit down
Let's hurry up with the formalities, you know why
One day, weddings will be celebrated in the open again
It is very sad that a day like this...
... should not be celebrated traditionally
But being the first to desert the offices of the French...
To be married by the FLN...
... takes courage. It is a conscious gesture
An act of war
And now, Mahmoud and Fathia come forward
Sign here
Congratulations
Best wishes, very best wishes
Make yourselves comfortable
20th June 1956. 10.32 a.m.
Come over here
Keep calm
Come this way
Listen
They want to talk to the Inspector
Yes, sir, but they didn't get the search warrant
They followed them but then lost them
Of course, sir, but that depends on the Commissioner
Democratic methods. We do have some suspects
They favour a formal enquiry
Yes, sir...
I don't have enough men
I understand
But if you could...
The Prefect can't
But couldn't you? As you wish
Well, they'll slaughter the lot of us
Right...
3.00 p.m. Patrol fired on. Three soldiers wounded
Location: Rue Luciani
4.00 p.m. Shots fired at guards
Location: Intersection of main road and Avenue Laquiere
In Paris, the solution is to increase police numbers...
...and close off streets. I don't agree with it
Right, Corbiere, where were we?
Intersection of main road and Avenue Laquiere
The Governor of Algiers decrees; Article 1...
Purchase of medicines suitable for treating gun wounds...
be authorised by the Prefecture
Article 2; Hospitals and nursing homes...
... must inform the police...
... about all patients admitted for treatment
The Algiers Prefecture communicates...
... that recently there have been dozens of outrages in the city
The culprits are presumed to be Moslem...
... able to find refuge quickly and easily in the Arab quarters
To restore order forthwith, the Prefect has decided to seal off...
... the Kasbah
Checkpoints will be set up
And citizens will have to show their papers
It's nothing we need worry about
Returning to the Kasbah? - No, two days' leave
Never touch their women
20th July 1956, 11.20 a.m.
What do you want?
I'm going swimming
You're still here? - It's that way
Come here
Now, get out
Always the same! - It's the government's fault
t does it care?
There he is!
It's him!
Where? - Down there
Get hold of him
Murderer! Murderer!
You dirty rat!
Where are you going?
The rat! - Don't let him get away
He's escaping! Grab him
I saw him!
Stop him!
He's running away!
Culprit: Laknan Abdullah
Labourer, married with 3 children, living at 8 Rue de Thebes
How many today? - Seven incidents, three dead
Tell me...
Where's Rue de Thebes?
Off the Kasbah, I believe
Goodnight, mamma - Goodnight, children
Fatma, why aren't they in bed?
They're just going - Goodnight
We must go now - Oh, there's still time
Can't you play here? - Must you really go?
Have another drink - All right, one more
No, I'm sorry, we're late
Goodnight all. Hurry up
Goodbye, Lucien. Don't keep Henri up too late
In the back
Is it much further? - No
Can we go in - You're too late
The curfew's in force
Let him in. He's with me
Yes, sir, you may go through - Let's go
It's all set? - Yes, hurry up
Murderers! Murderers!
Ali! Ali, stop!
Jaffer says you must stop
He's trying to stop the people
Get out
They'll kill us!
Halt!
Stay calm. Go back home or they'll kill us all
Leave it to the FLN. We'll avenge you
You stand guard. You come in
OK, like this? - Perfect
Fine
No good? Listen
I'll take my child. It'll work
OK, but go by the Divan checkpoint
It's busier and they're not so careful
The Air France offices
The cafeteria in Rue Michelot
The milk bar in Rue d'Isly
They're short-fuse bombs...
...so they'll be set outside the Kasbah. At 3, Rue del Porto
But then you must hurry. You'll only have 25 minutes
Now goodbye. And good luck
Good luck
Fathia, God be with you
Your papers - I've forgotten them
Over there. Move! - They're at home
I must go to work
Get back! - Please, I'm late
I said wait!
Move back or no one'll go through
Let me through - Wait there
It's not fair - Just wait
Excuse me. Excuse me, sir
May I pass? - Of course
Hello! Oh, it's all right
Hands up
Go through, Madame
Go on
I'll be an hour. He's a good boy
Thank you
Going to the sea, Miss? - How did you know?
I guessed
Like some company? - Not today. I've friends waiting
What a pity!
Maybe another time?
Maybe
Good luck
Cola, please
Would you like to sit down? - Thank you
Here you are
100 francs
Leaving already? What a shame
Attention please. Flight 432 to Paris...
...will be delayed for 20 minutes
Would you like another Martini?
It's nothing, just a gas bottle
The Paras!
10th June 1957
Jean Soreau, Inspector General...
... of the Administration...
... has presided over a special meeting...
... to combat terrorism in Algiers
lmportant decisions were taken to maintain law and order...
...and to protect people and property
It was decided that General Carelle...
... commanding the 10th Paratroop Division...
... will assume responsibility for law and order...
... using all civil and military measures...
... as well as special powers allocated to them
Mathieu Philippe. Born 5th August 1907 in Bordeaux
Rank; Lieutenant-Colonel
Campaigns; Italy and Normandy
Member of the French Resistance
Served in Madagascar, Suez, Indo-China and Algeria
On average lately, there have been
The problem, as usual, is: One, the enemy...
Two, how to destroy him
There are 400,000 Arabs in Algiers
Are they all our enemies? We know they're not
There's only a minority which rules by terror and violence
This is the enemy we have to isolate and destroy
A dangerous enemy moving both...
...on the surface and below...
...using well-tried revolutionary tactics and original techniques
It's an unknown, unrecognisable enemy...
...which blends in with the people
It is everywhere. In the cafs, the Kasbah...
In the European quarter, in shops and workshops
These films were taken by the police...
...with cameras hidden at the checkpoints
They thought they might come in useful, and indeed they do
To show the uselessness of certain methods!
Or at least their shortcomings
I've chosen pictures taken shortly before...
Amongst all these Arab men and women...
...are those responsible
But which ones?
How to recognize them?
Checking papers is ridiculous
If anyone's is in order...
...it's the terrorist's
Watch the soldier. He's sure that basket contains something important.
And he examines the contents very thoroughly!
Maybe the bomb was here, in a false bottom.
We'll never know.
That's enough, Martin.
We have to start from zero.
We know something of the organization's structure.
Let's start from there. It's a pyramid organization...
...composed of various sections which, in turn...
...are made up of a series of triangles.
At the apex is the Chief of Staff responsible to the political bureau.
He nominates someone to be responsible for one sector: No. 1.
No. 1 selects another two: Nos. 2 and 3.
And so Triangle 1 is formed.
Nos. 2 and 3 each select two men
Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Because of this structure, each member of the organization...
...knows only three other members.
The one who chose him...
...and the two he chose.
Contact is only in writing.
That's why we don't know our enemy.
Because, in fact, they don't know each other.
If we know him, we can eliminate him.
The military angle is secondary.
It's the 'police' side that matters.
I know you dislike that word.
But it's the only one which sums up our task.
We must try to reconstruct...
...the pyramid and identify the Chief.
The basis of our job is information. The method, interrogation.
Conducted in such a way as to ensure we always get an answer.
In this situation, false sentiment leads only to ridicule...
...and impotence.
I'm sure all units understand and will act accordingly.
Unfortunately...
...it doesn't depend just on us. We must have the town at our disposal.
To sift through it...
...and to question everyone.
But we're up against a mass of laws and regulations being enforced...
...as though Algiers was a holiday resort, not a battlefield.
We've asked for carte blanche, but it's difficult to get.
We need an incident which will legalize our actions...
...and make them feasible.
We ourselves must create this opening...
...so our adversaries don't do it for us, as I believe they might.
To all freedom fighters.
After two years...
...of bitter struggle...
...the Algerian people are victorious.
On Monday 28th January...
...the United Nations will debate the Algerian question.
The Organization will mobilize...
...to explain the importance of this to the people.
For eight days from Monday the FLN proclaims a general strike.
There will be no armed action or incidents.
'Le Monde'! Eight-day strike!
My money, please.
Strike!
Brothers, Algerians...
Having tried all methods to avoid a UN debate on Algeria...
...the colonialists insist that the FLN represents only a minority.
World opinion is behind us.
Let us show we are united.
Support the strike proclaimed by the FLN.
For these eight days, do not enter the European quarter.
Stay In the Kasbah. Don't gather in closed places...
...thus facilitating round-ups.
Shelter the poor and homeless in your houses.
Stock up with food and water.
They seem calm. - Yes, but they're restless.
Like rats in a trap... we hope.
Do you think the strike will be.
Certainly.
All going well? - I hope so.
What will you call the operation?
Well, General...
Operation Champagne. - Operation Champagne, why not?
Fine.
They're beggars, unemployed, homeless.
They'll stay here during the strike safe from police sweeps.
But I don't think they ought to have been brought here.
It's a mistake. - Why?
Because you're here. We'd better change the place.
Don't you trust them? - You never know.
All right, you decide.
No. If I made the decisions you wouldn't be in Algiers now.
Why? - It's not prudent.
Ali, go with Ben M'Hidi to the Maison des Arbres.
Isn't he sleeping here? - No. Too many new faces around.
Another one ready.
Look at this for a hideout. Seems like a wall.
Look inside. - No, you must go. It's late.
They're old fighters. You'll be safe.
Hurry, Ali.
The terrace is the shortest way.
All right, you can come.
Fine. They're waiting.
- What's your view on the strike? - It'll succeed.
I think so too. It has been well organized.
But the French?
Obviously, they'll try everything to break it.
They'll do more than that.
We've given them the chance.
Understand what I mean?
Now they'll no longer grope in the dark.
Every striker...
...will be a recognizable enemy...
...a confessed criminal. And they will go over onto the offensive.
Have you thought of that? - No.
Jaffer says you weren't in favour of the strike.
No, neither were my men. - Why not?
Because they say we mustn't use arms.
You don't win wars with outrages.
Neither wars nor revolutions.
Terrorism serves to begin with.
But later, the people themselves must move.
That's the reason behind the need to strike.
To mobilize all Algerians, to count them.
To assess our strength.
To show the UN?
Yes, the UN too.
It might not be much use...
...but at least the UN will be able to see our strength.
You know, Ali...
...it's hard to start a revolution.
Even harder to continue it.
And hardest of all to win it.
But it's only afterwards, when we have won...
...that the true difficulties begin.
In short, there's still much to do.
You are not already tired, Ali? - No.
Wake up!
Attention all vehicles!
Speed up the sweep. Truck No.
No. 3: the port.
Attention...
All suspects to be sent to HQ.
That one.
You, come here. Wait there.
On strike, eh? - I'm not well.
You're too scared to say, but you're with the FLN, aren't you?
What do you take me for?
The FLN wants you to strike and you won't speak?
Please yourself. This one to HQ too, Grard.
You, come here. - Are you deaf?
Move! At the double!
Get a move on!
It's now the fourth day, and the general strike continues.
The town is paralyzed, but there have been no serious incidents.
Calm reigns in the Arab quarter.
I'll call you back.
Mathieu's here.
Colonel... - I'm meeting the Prefect.
What's going on? - I'm just assessing the situation.
Go and look for yourselves. I've put all means at your disposal.
The strike seems successful?
It has missed its main aim - insurrection.
That wasn't its aim. - You believe the FLN?
Maybe. A general strike is convincing at the UN.
The UN is far away. How can it judge a strike's importance?
Bombs get heard. I'd do like them.
What exactly is armed insurrection?
It's an inevitable stage in revolutionary war.
After terrorism, armed insurrection follows. Just as guerrilla tactics...
...precede war proper.
Dien Bien Phu?
Exactly. But in Indo-China they won.
And here? - It depends on you.
On us? You want us to enlist?
God forbid! Just write... and write well.
It's not soldiers we lack. - Then what?
Political will, which is sometimes present, sometimes not.
But sometimes is not enough. What's Paris saying?
Just another article by Sartre.
Why are the Sartres always on the other side?
You don't like Sartre?
No, but I'd like him even less as an enemy.
One, two, three, four... follow me.
Come on, hurry up!
What's going on? - They're singing.
OK. Let's have it. From the start, then you can go.
Name? - Smain.
First name? - Ahmed.
District? - Second.
Be more precise. - No. 2, the Kasbah, Algiers West.
Which group? - Third group.
What was your job? - Responsible for the Sixth Squad.
That'll do.
Day six of the strike.
People of the Kasbah...
The FLN prevents you from working.
The FLN makes you shut your shops.
The FLN wants to starve you and condemn you to misery.
The FLN prevents you from working.
People of the Kasbah...
...France is your motherland.
Muhammed? Muhammed? Have you seen him?
The FLN wants to starve you and condemn you to misery.
People of the Kasbah, rebel against the FLN.
Courage! God be with you.
Courage!
Algerians! Brothers!
Take courage!
Algeria will be free!
Brothers, resist. Don't listen...
...to what they say.
Algeria will be free!
5th February. Last day of the strike.
Open the shop.
Pull!
Faster!
The UN General Assembly...
...after falling to obtain a majority...
...on any motion put forward...
...has decided there will be...
...no direct Intervention in Algeria.
The UN, however, hopes that in a spirit of cooperation...
...a peaceful and just solution will be found...
...in keeping with UN Charter principles.
Good. Well done.
Now we can go to bed.
The end of the strike changes nothing.
Keep the boys on duty.
We must stay in the Kasbah 24 hours a day.
Our work must continue with no let- up.
Any of you had a tapeworm?
It's a worm that grows to infinity.
You can kill thousands of its segments...
...but if the head remains, it immediately reproduces.
The FLN's the same.
The head is the General Staff: several people.
If they are not eliminated, we'll be back to zero. Here are four of them.
I found these in the police files.
I had them enlarged.
Ramel.
Si Mourad.
Jaffer.
Ali la Pointe.
We must print a thousand copies and distribute them to our boys.
Who else lives here?
I told you. My daughter upstairs, and my husband who's at work.
OK, Pierre. Let's go. -All right.
You can come out.
There were a lot - ten this time.
Paratroopers?
Did they come here on purpose?
No, by chance. They only asked questions.
Jibel Amalika has been arrested.
Sheikh Abdullah has been arrested.
People of the Kasbah, the FLN has lost the battle.
Rebel against this dying regime.
Work with us to bulid a new Algeria.
Moujid Ben Ali has been arrested.
What's wrong? - Nothing.
Take courage.
We'll split up. That will improve our chances.
We must keep changing hideouts.
We must replace those arrested...
...and get reorganized.
And make ourselves felt...
As soon as possible.
Now. Leave it to me.
No. None of us.
As long as we exist, the FLN exists.
If we're caught there'll be nothing.
From nothing you get nothing.
Do something.
When we've made new contacts.
How do we move? - We'll change methods.
I'm getting out in three months.
Hey, look. - Halt!
Quick, hide us! We're being followed.
Where? The house is so small.
In the well. God protect you.
Come. The well, it's nearly dry. - Good.
They didn't stop. They've gone and the others are far away.
Thanks.
We'll contact the 2nd and 5th sectors.
The 1st and 6th have had too many losses.
The 3rd and 4th are reorganizing.
It's enough to start with.
25th February, 1957
You bastard! You'll pay for the others!
Keep calm! Get back!
4th March, 1957
Enough photographs.
Mr. Ben M'Hidi...
Isn't it vile to use women's baskets...
...to carry bombs to attack innocent victims?
Isn't it even more vile to drop napalm bombs...
...on defenceless villages, killing thousands more victims?
It would be easier for us if we had planes.
Give me the bombers...
...and you can have the baskets.
Mr. Williams wants to know...
It has more chance than they have...
...of changing the course of history.
Colonel Mathieu has said that you were arrested by chance.
By mistake.
The paratroopers...
...were looking for someone less important than you.
Could you say why you were in that flat...
...in Rue Debussy?
I can only say I wish I hadn't been.
Enough, gentlemen. It's late and we've work to do.
Show over?
Correct.
Before it backfires.
Closed for having taken part in the strike.
People of the Kasbah, the rebellion is petering out.
Ali Mohammed of FLN Sector 2 was killed this morning.
People of Algiers...
Denounce the agitators.
Abandon them.
Count on the protection of the French Army.
Colonel Mathieu...
The spokesman of the Resident Minister, M. Gorlin...
...states that Ben M'Hidi...
...hanged himself in his cell...
...by tearing up his shirt and making it into a rope...
...which he tied to the bars of his window.
Given his stated intention to escape at the first opportunity...
...it was thought necessary...
...to keep the prisoner bound...
...hand and foot at all times.
In your opinion, Colonel...
Is a man in this condition...
...capable of tearing his shirt, making it into a rope...
...and hanging himself with it?
Ask the spokesman about that.
I didn't make the statements.
For my part, I appreciated Ben M'Hidi's moral strength...
...his courage and commitment to his own ideals.
And so, notwithstanding the great danger he represented...
...I pay homage to his memory.
Colonel Mathieu...
There's been much talk, not only of the paras' successes...
...but of the methods they're said to use. Can you say something on this?
I feel that in being excessively careful...
...my colleagues keep asking indirect questions...
...to which you can only reply indirectly.
It would be better to call...
...a spade a spade. If it's torture, let's say so.
I understand. And you? You've no questions?
No, I would merely like some more precise answers.
Let us try to be exact. 'Torture' doesn't appear in our orders.
We use interrogation...
...as the only valid police method against a clandestine organization.
The FLN asks its members...
...to keep silent for 24 hours if they are captured.
Then they can talk.
In that time, the FLN can render any information useless.
And us? How should we question suspects?
Like the courts, taking a few months over it?
Legality can be inconvenient.
Is it legal to blow up public places?
Remember what Ben M'Hidi said when you asked him that.
Believe me, gentlemen, it's a vicious circle.
We could talk for hours to no avail because that is not the problem.
The problem is...
...the FLN want us out of Algeria and we want to stay.
There are different shades of opinion...
...buy I think you all agree we should stay.
When the rebellion began there were no shades of opinion.
All the papers, even the leftist ones, wanted it crushed.
That's why we were sent here.
And we are neither mad nor sadists.
Those who call us "fascists"...
...forget what many of us did in the Resistance.
They call us "Nazis"...
...but some of us are survivors of Dachau and Buchenwald.
We are soldiers. Our duty is to win.
Thus, to be quite clear...
...I'll ask you a question myself.
Must France stay in Algeria?
If the answer's still "yes"...
...then you must accept what that entails.
He's a doctor. Stabbed! - It's horrible!.
Blast! No more ammo!
Look there!
Crush them!
26th August 1957
The Colonel's here.
Don't play the hero. It's futile. Pass me the megaphone.
Ramel! Si Mourad!
Listen.
I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when we get you.
You know we'll get you.
Give yourselves up and you won't be touched. You'll have a fair trial.
Do you hear? - Who's speaking?
Mathieu. Colonel Mathieu.
We don't trust you.
Come closer.
Show yourself.
Why don't you trust us?
Stand, so that we can see you.
With your hands still and in full view.
OK. But we want the promise about the trial in writing.
Give us a written promise. Then we'll surrender.
How?
We'll lower our weapons in a basket.
Fair enough.
Here?
Yes, just there.
Ready, Mathieu? - Yes, but first let's see you.
60... 59... 58...
54... 53... 52...
We can see them now.
Here. You know that when I promise I keep my word.
The pig's tricked us!
Get a move on!
We'll get a move on all right!
Burn all the papers.
24th September 1957
You never know.
Who's Zakia?
You? - Yes.
Go up and tell Jaffer to surrender...
...or I'll blow up the house.
Convince him if you value your house.
Understood? - Yes.
Wait, or he'll kill you.
Jaffer! Zakia's coming up! Don't shoot.
Go now.
Jaffer, I'm Zakia.
Listen to me. They say if you don't come down...
...they'll blow up the house.
Tell the Colonel he can blow up what he likes.
Go, I said!
He won't surrender. He says: go ahead.
OK. Join the others.
Prepare the plastic. As near as possible.
Use a long fuse. We'll cut it later.
Give them continuous cover while they work.
You, keep your eyes open. Anything can happen, as we know.
It's quite pointless to die like this.
Mathieu! If you give me your word not to touch anyone in this house...
...we'll come down.
I'd have hated to blow it up.
Why?
Your picture and your file...
...have been on my table for ages.
I feel I know you quite well.
You don't seem the type for empty gestures.
You seem happy to have me alive.
Yes, I am.
Evidently I've given you an unexpected advantage.
No, only the satisfaction of having guessed right.
Technically...
...there is no longer an advantage. It's over.
What's she saying?
She says there's still Ali la Pointe.
I'm coming.
I'll be right back.
Go to bed, Omar.
Tomorrow there'll be just us.
Mahmoud... Hassiba...
...me and you.
No one else is left. Sadek will drive.
Get out, place the bomb...
...and return quickly.
Mind they don't follow you. Then we'll get out.
Hassiba, followed by Mahmoud and then me.
Wake up.
You'll see some fireworks today.
Nearly time, isn't it? - Yes.
Hassiba! - I'm ready.
I heard a truck.
So did I. But if it was Sadek he'd be here now.
How's your wife? - The same.
Inside! Inside!
Outside, you! Get up!
Well? - All ready. I've evacuated the house.
Has he replied? - Nothing. Absolute silence.
I thought as much.
Ali la Pointe!
At least get the others out. You know we'll blow you up.
The boy will only go to the reformatory.
Why let him die?
He's still here? Get him out.
Ali, I'll give you thirty seconds. What do you hope for?
Anyway, you've already lost.
Think hard. Thirty seconds from now.
Who wants to go out?
What will you do? - I won't bargain.
You four stay here and go down when I signal.
Well? - All ready, General.
Get back.
You two cover him and take care.
Now the tapeworm's headless.
Satisfied, Mathieu? - Yes, sir.
The FLN in Algiers is decapitated. - I think we'll hear no more of it.
At least for the time being. - For ever, we hope.
After all, they're good people. We got on well for 130 years.
Why couldn't it continue? - Algeria is not just Algiers.
No, Algiers isn't all of Algeria.
That's true, but for now let's be content with Algiers.
Things are much easier in the mountains.
Goodbye, General.
Goodbye, Mathieu. We'll see you at HQ this afternoon.
Yes, sir.
11th December 1960
It is not known why, nor the pretext for it...
...but after two years of relative quiet...
...with the war just continuing...
...mostly in the mountains, trouble has broken out again.
Nobody knows why or how.
I've phoned Tunis.
I spoke personally with the FLN in exile, but they know nothing.
This morning for the first time...
...their green and white flags have appeared.
Thousands of flags...
...probably sewn overnight.
It's hard to call them flags. They're sheets, shirts, rags...
...but flags nevertheless.
It's very tense today.
Despite pressure...
...from extreme colonialists, the government has given orders...
...not to use arms except as a last resort.
Today attempts were made to break into the European quarter.
There were many deaths, but calm has now returned.
However, the Kasbah still echoes with those strange cries.
Rhythmic, nightmarish.
The surprising unanimity of these demonstrations...
...has had a marked effect on French public opinion.
According to Paris, the more sensitive political groups...
...are gravitating towards better relations with Algeria.
21st December 1960. Last day of demonstrations.
Listen to me!
Return to your homes!
What do you want?
Two more years of struggle were still to pass.
Then, on 2nd July 1962 Independence was won...
...and the Algerian nation was born.