The film The Battle of Algiers, released in 1966, adds a powerful insight into imperialism and colonial revolution. The film is set in the city of Algiers during the time when France controlled Algeria but revolutions were taking place. The film chronicles the period in which the FLN (Front de Libération Nationale) attempted to stop French rule over Algeria. Members of the FLN were engaged in warfare against French forces for several years and used bombs and guerrilla warfare to advance their objectives. The French responded by using brutal tactics (mainly torture) to gain information about the FLN. This received international attention, but France was mostly allowed to continue its efforts unhindered. Over time, French forces arrested or killed all FLN leaders and the uprising was stopped. Several years later, at the very end of the film, thousands of people began protesting for Algeria's freedom and sovereignty. This peaceful protest eventually led to the French granting Algeria its freedom. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Based on the main plot and premise of the film, some of the main themes included in the film are distrust of Europeans being the most ethical, a solid affirmation of nonviolent protest techniques, and a negative view of using of violent independence movements. The film devotes the vast majority to the FLN's violent techniques used in hopes of gaining Algerian independence, but the FLN fails to achieve this goal; all FLN leaders were eventually killed or captured. The film does not set out to change history and make the FLN movement successful, but instead lets the non-violent protest have little correlation to the violent events perpetrated by the FLN. Furthermore, the non-violent protests that did take place ultimately had few casualties and were ultimately successful. The film basically argues for nonviolence as the best way for a colony to gain independence and states that violent protests do not always achieve peace and often fail. The violent actions of the FLN and the reactions of the French also cause the death of many innocent bystanders. Most bombing events include many shots of dead bodies and include a depiction of the victims' lives before they were killed. Nonviolent actions and protests are useful, not because Europeans are somehow more virtuous and just, but because nonviolent protests get the job done. The French are not morally pure in this film. They engage in many anti-human rights actions through torturing prisoners to obtain information. When questioned about the morality of such acts, the Colonel responds that this plan of action was the only option to maintain an Algerian France, creating a dichotomy that many would call false. Although the Colonel's plan ultimately led to the killing or capture of the FLN leaders, the morality of what he ordered is clearly depicted by the film as negative. Towards the end of the film there are several torture techniques put on display for the viewer, and they are all macabre, dark and contain people in immense pain. The French also bomb some buildings in the Muslim quarter of Algiers, and appear to act with more brutality than the FLN forces. This calls into question the morality of European or Western countries and advances the idea that Western civilization is not inherently right in everything it does. After all, the film is about an independence movement! The film has themes.