A rare cinematic achievement and a courageous picture, one of the very few fictions in French cinema to address directly the Algerian war and colonial army practices such as rape and torture. The film looks semi-improvised, but the story is still very strong, centered on the fascistic officer played by a young, believable Philippe Léotard. Director Rene Vautier spent years in Algeria during the war fighting on the side of justice, and everything here feels completely authentic. Moving songs (by Pierre Tisserand), poignant desert landscapes, and a modest and deeply effective sense of what is right and what is wrong add to this underrated masterpiece.
Review of Avoir 20 ans dans les Aurès
