A screening of “The Battle of Algiers”, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo from our archive of films selected by Emily Jacir. Set in the capital of French-occupied Algeria between November 1954 and December 1957, during the Algerian War of Independence, the film was inspired by ‘Souvenirs de la Bataille d'Alger’, by Saadi Yacef. Local Algerians play inhabitants of the Casbah, and Western tourists were recruited to play the parts of Europeans. The only professional actor in the film is Jean Martin who plays Colonel Mathieu. Saadi Yacef plays himself. The film was banned in France until 1971.