Algerian and North African Cinema

While Pontecorvo's film, The Battle of Algiers  (1966) is usually thought of as an Algerian film, it is important to recall that its director is Italian.  In a sense, this is really an Italian film.  Nevertheless, the film had enormous influence not only on a global audience but on Algerian intellectuals and the formation of an Algerian film industry.

One of the more influential directors is the Franco-Algerian director, Rachid Bouchareb, whose films reflect the hybridity of composite identies for those of French and Algerian residences.  

For a recent discussion of the economic problems in the contemporary Algerian film industry go to the Euromed Cafe article, "Algerian Cinema at a Turning Point."