Associated with a genre of film known as Italian neorealism, The Battle of Algiers sees director Gillo Pontecorvo employ distinct aesthetic choices influenced by pioneering Italian director Roberto Rossellini.
Viewers of the film will note Pontecorvo's neorealist-inspired decision to shoot the film in black and white at a time when color had become dominant in the industry. Pontecorvo's cinematographer Marcello Gatti also used handheld cameras and telephoto lenses to contribute further to the film's realism, making it appear as though much of the footage was shot by a journalist documenting the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962).
Pontecorvo complemented the distinctive visual style with a cast of non-professional actors in the Algerian roles. Many of the actors would have been able to draw on their real-life experience of living through their country's struggle for independence, particularly Saadi Yacef (Djafar), who was an FLN leader with firsthand knowledge of the events Pontecorvo was dramatizing. Similarly, Samia Kerbash (Fathia) was an FLN member whose account of the war served as an inspiration to Pontecorvo. Although Pontecorvo cast a professional actor in the role of Philippe Mathieu, actor Jean Martin was also able to draw on real-life experience in his role, as he had been part of the French Resistance during WWII and served in the Indochina War. Mathieu references his participation in both these conflicts during the film.
Pontecorvo's documentary-like depiction of the Algerian War of Independence has garnered acclaim from directors and audiences around the world. However, the French government banned the film upon its release, citing its lack of political neutrality during a time when Algeria was still a hot-button issue. Pontecorvo received death threats from far-right–affiliated individuals who disputed his depiction of colonial France.
While Pontecorvo believed the film was more or less balanced in its depiction, it has been said that the film served as inspiration for guerrilla movements such as the Black Panthers and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. In 2003, the Pentagon presented an official screening of the film, believing an analysis of the French's counter-terror efforts could result in useful insights for American soldiers in Iraq.
