Flixwise Podcast

On today's show, Lady P is joined by co-producer, Martin Kessler, and Flixwise regular, Kristen Sales, to talk about the 48th film on the Sight and Sound Critics Poll, Gillo Pontecorvo's 1966 feature: The Battle of Algiers. In the years since its release Algiers has become infamous more for its use as a training video rather than its cinematic legacy. It's been cited by everyone from The Black Panthers to the United States Military as a blueprint for both engaging in and combatting guerrilla-style warfare. However, our panel attempts to separate Pontecorvo's initial vision from the thorny political aftermath by focusing more on the film's cinematic sensibilities and directorial choices. We talk about whether Algiers deserves more attention for its artistry, or if it should primary be remembered as an effective piece of agitprop. Then, for the second topic, the panel uses the depictions of bloodshed in The Battle of Algiers as a jumping off point for a wider discussion about violence in cinema. We know what yo