The Battle of Algiers (1966) – Filming Locations
Drama / War / History · Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo · Starring Brahim Hadjadj, Fouzia El Kader
Paratrooper commander Colonel Mathieu, a former French Resistance fighter during World War II, is sent to Algeria to reinforce efforts to squelch the uprisings of the Algerian War. There he faces Ali la Pointe, a former petty criminal who, as the leader of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale, directs terror strategies against the colonial French government occupation. As each side resorts to ever-increasing brutality, no violent act is too unthinkable.
Where was The Battle of Algiers filmed?
- Algiers, Algeria, Algiers – Opening sequence and primary setting for the urban guerrilla warfare throughout the film. The historic Casbah's narrow winding streets and densely packed buildings provided the authentic backdrop for the film's depiction of the FLN insurgency and French military occupation
- Algiers, Algeria, Algiers – Contrasting scenes of the French colonial administration and civilian spaces targetted by bombing campaigns. The modern European colonial sections of Algiers were filmed to show the stark contrast between the occupiers' orderly quarters and the Casbah's resistance
- Algiers, Algeria, Algiers – Key sequences depicting military operations, arrests, and surveillance activities during the French occupation. The harbor and port areas served as locations for scenes showing French military presence and control of the city's strategic infrastructure