Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (2169)

Content

Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated The Battle of Algiers (1966) in Movies

Jan 28, 2021

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

1966 | Classics, Drama, War

7.4

(8 Ratings)

Movie Rating

This film-maker was unknown to me entirely before I decided to watch this film. In fact, I had only heard of the film itself quite recently from seeing it mentioned as one of the best films in the genre as a commentary on political insurgency and civil unrest. It is so well regarded that even the US military used it to prepare troops for entering Iraq. The main actors are largely unknown and many of the supporting cast and extras are not actors at all. The camera is allowed to wander and wobble, and such is the feel of random chaos at times you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a documentary. Nominated for 3 Oscars, and faultless in achieving its goal of humanising both sides of an argument, you can see the influence on Oliver Stone and Paul Greengrass, to name but two better known directors with a political edge.

It’s not a film I would feel the need to go back to, unless demonstrating to someone how to make something staged feel entirely real. I admire this film very much, but wouldn’t exactly call it entertaining or even rewarding as a story. Its purpose is to reinforce the tragedy of a people facing oppression and to realise the lengths both sides will go to in protecting their ideals and relative freedoms. The excellent hand held photography and score by the always inspirational Ennio Moricone are other reasons to watch it. As a history lesson of North Africa post WWII it also has a lot to offer.

Kudos

ClareR (6054 KP) rated The Fountains of Silence in Books

Oct 4, 2019

The Fountains of Silence

Ruta Sepetys | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Young Adult (YA)

9.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

The Fountains of Silence is set during Franco’s reign in Spain in 1957. Daniel and his parents are visiting Spain: his oil tycoon father hopes to cut a deal with the government. He wants his son to be more interested in the oil business, but Daniel only wants to take photos and become a photo journalist.

Daniel meets Ana, a maid at the hotel they are staying at, and falls in love. He decides to take photos of the real Spain, encouraged by an American journalist who is also staying at the hotel, and as a way of learning more about Ana’s life.

So we are introduced to real life in Franco’s Spain: the fear, the tragedy and the suffering.

There are actual excerpts from political documents and newspaper reports at the time, and these really helped clarify the background to the story that unfolded in the book. I really liked this touch.

I loved this novel. The descriptions of life in Spain at the time were so vivid: from the heat to the poverty in Ana’s village, to the opulence of Daniels hotel. Ana and her family were lovely people, having to cope in an impossible situation as the children of murdered republicans. And the end was very satisfying (although I’m sure I would have happily read on for longer!). This will definitely be a book that I recommend to anyone interested in Spain’s recent history. It is a beautiful story.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for choosing such a wonderful book to serialise.