The French actor who played the Colonel, Jean Martin, was the only truly "professional" actor in movie. Before the movie, Martin was blacklisted in France for signing a manifesto against the Algerian war. Brave man who put on a great perfomance.
The Colonel's last sentence says it all. "Should FRANCE stay in ALGERIA?" If the answer had been yes, we would've had to accept the consequences --which were unacceptable. Many a French soldier went mad because of these "consequences" (some officers, like Massu, actually ended up adopting Arab orphans of war to redeem themselves). DE GAULLE could not accept these consequences either. That, among other reasons, is why he went for auto-determination on September 16th 1959. Of course, had FRANCE followed a One Class of Citizen Rule policy from the very beginning, the Algerian War of Independence would've never occurred. DE GAULLE's June 4th 1958 speech came 13 years too late.
De Gaulle never wanted to embrace the "once class of citizen rule" for the simple reason, and I'm paraphrasing him, if the savages were allowed to become French citizens en masse, his home town of Colombey-les-Deux-Églises would've become in 20 years "Colombey-les-Deux-Mosques".
@@andreinarangel6227 Yes he simply wanted France and the French people to leave Algeria. That's why he also didn't try to make the Algerian government give the French people any rights or protect them during the Oran Massacre.
That last 30 seconds says it all. for just about every war and conflict and misunderstanding: "do you want what you're fighting for? If so, then accept the consequences, and carry on.
You're right, but I think the point of that line in context of the movie was that it was always going to be impossible to do a "nice" version of colonialism/imperialism. It's an act that is inherently violent and always leads to more violence.
@@atulyadora-laskey7056 True. I don't know if it is 100% impossible for imperialism to be peaceful though. I could see a large, rich country taking a developing nation under its wing and helping it (giving trade, etc), but I have never heard of such a thing happening. (But, I'm no expert, so maybe I just haven't heard about one.)
All trade in all forms generally lead to exploitive situation. Humanity overall practically spirals down to exploitation. If you sell a product to someone while knowing he could walk a block down to buy a good for a lower price is also exploitation. At the end, no matter what relationship will be between countries, all long term trade will inevitably most likely end in exploitation be from an NGO or a state owned prop
I know comment sections are always filled with praise of movies they show but this is probably my single favorite scene of any movie ever. It gets to the heart of fighting political battles: what do you believe most of all? And if you know you believe it, you must know that everything else you pretend to care about is second order. In this case, the general was clear in the way the journalists were not. He knew exactly what he wanted, to force the people of Algeria to live under French rule. I never sided with the French in this movie. I find it impossible too. But the general knew exactly what he was doing and why.
Alien Alien I feel a little insulted. I have family members who died fighting the French imperial army. My father faught against the French colony. My maternal grand father fought the Nazis in Corsica in 1943 and in Italy In 43/44, with the third Algerian ( French ) infantry division. Before he returned to Algeria and was among the first to start the liberation war against the French colony, his house was burned to the ground in 1956 and was jailed for 3 years.
@Alien Alien Oh but it is ironic. He's using the fact that he fought against the Nazis as a justification. To me it shows how messy war ist and how really nothing stops countries from becoming oppressive forces. An oppressive force is even likely to turn its opposition into one as well.
Lizard Cammies and Persol Sunglasses. Military Haut Couture. Colonel Mattieu walks at the head of the column. It is implied "If you wish to offend France then offend me. France and I are the same."
He also throws the "just following orders" defense back in his critics faces. His argument goes, "This is a democratic society with a free press. Unless you people are ready to grant independence to Algeria right this minute, I'm following YOUR orders."
I think many rightwinger simply misinterpret what Colonel Matthieu said. He didn't say he enjoy tortures. Colonel Matthieu said it clearly: when the FLN wants to throw us out and we want to stay. It is not like Rightwingers that don't bother to have any clear objective and treat tortures like a state-run horror show.
I took it as "we in the army are an instrument of the will of the republic, and in a democracy, the French people through its representatives have directed us to stay and use whatever methods are needed to achieve that goal. The people cannot then shift their guilt and the blame to us for carrying out their will - the responsibility for the consequences/methods remains with them for putting us here and ordering us to keep Algeria to keep under French rule. When they tell us to leave, we will."
The man's not a fascist, he's a political/ideological realist. You may believe his cause is unjust, but he's motivated by a desire to protect his people and his country. In essence, his aims are those shared by all great statesmen throughout history.
Where the analogy falls apart is that France could choose to leave and go back across the Mediterranean...while even if they completely withdrew, Israel is going to have to live with an independent Palestine next door.
Ressources and investment, especailly in early 20th century when oil was being discovered. They didn't want to just remain in Algeria, they wanted Algeria without the Algerians.
“Those who call us ‘fascists’ forget the role we played in the Resistance.” You sure as hell sound like Hitler saying you want to rule Algeria with an iron fist.
Beautiful - outstanding. This film was banned in France for supposedly taking the Algerian FLN terrorist side - but... I think this French Colonel Massu counter terrorist man has the best lines. Hell yes, fight terror with counter terror.
i wonder who started the terror? is it the algerians who invaded france or the other way around?, focus when sharing your ideas and opinions with others, it is often how fools are exposed "when they open their mouths".
Are you saying the terrorists are the ones who decided to fight for their country and freedom and free their people from mass genocide and inhumane treatment and the rape of women from french soldiers?
I’m sick of those bastards using the Holocaust to get away with the war crimes. This does not make them any better than the Nazis we fought in the war.
WWII, French in Algeria, USA in the Vietnam war, Portuguese colonial wars, Rhodesian Bush war, South Africa border war, ..... All the same story...... The armed forces were winning the war but in the end lost. Sometimes the WINNERS lose and the LOSERS win, and everytime this happen they are in fact, always the good guys and.. the whole world and sometimes even their own politicians are against them.... And in the end we find out that they are and were the good guys since the very beginning.
You have Boer flag in your pfp so ofc you sympathize with these disgusting colonial overlords. And prove what exactly? That the condition was horrible and after that terrible colonization and war, everyone suffered despite the national liberation movement victory? If people had accepted the boots, they wouldn't rebel in the first place.
The French actor who played the Colonel, Jean Martin, was the only truly "professional" actor in movie. Before the movie, Martin was blacklisted in France for signing a manifesto against the Algerian war. Brave man who put on a great perfomance.
He was also a para himself in indochine
Excellent film in every way. Intelligent, fair, well directed and edited. Jean Martin as the colonel is simply first class.
i'am algerian and i agree, the best movies are the ones that are not biased, this movie simply told the truth, no side was perfect in this battel
no macho bullshit, no sugarcoat of reality on both sides.
This scene is written so freaking well. Really intelligent dialogue
It's exactly what happened
The Colonel's last sentence says it all. "Should FRANCE stay in ALGERIA?" If the answer had been yes, we would've had to accept the consequences --which were unacceptable. Many a French soldier went mad because of these "consequences" (some officers, like Massu, actually ended up adopting Arab orphans of war to redeem themselves). DE GAULLE could not accept these consequences either. That, among other reasons, is why he went for auto-determination on September 16th 1959. Of course, had FRANCE followed a One Class of Citizen Rule policy from the very beginning, the Algerian War of Independence would've never occurred. DE GAULLE's June 4th 1958 speech came 13 years too late.
De Gaulle never wanted to embrace the "once class of citizen rule" for the simple reason, and I'm paraphrasing him, if the savages were allowed to become French citizens en masse, his home town of Colombey-les-Deux-Églises would've become in 20 years "Colombey-les-Deux-Mosques".
@@andreinarangel6227 Yes he simply wanted France and the French people to leave Algeria. That's why he also didn't try to make the Algerian government give the French people any rights or protect them during the Oran Massacre.
@@markhenley3097 De Gaulle sounds pretty non chalant.
Very Dignified Response. BTW, my mother was born in Rouen, and her last name was Poitrenaud. Almost like yours-
Oh no poor baby french soldiers crying because they raped and tortured people :(
That last 30 seconds says it all. for just about every war and conflict and misunderstanding: "do you want what you're fighting for? If so, then accept the consequences, and carry on.
You're right, but I think the point of that line in context of the movie was that it was always going to be impossible to do a "nice" version of colonialism/imperialism. It's an act that is inherently violent and always leads to more violence.
@@atulyadora-laskey7056 True. I don't know if it is 100% impossible for imperialism to be peaceful though. I could see a large, rich country taking a developing nation under its wing and helping it (giving trade, etc), but I have never heard of such a thing happening. (But, I'm no expert, so maybe I just haven't heard about one.)
@@woodworkerroyer8497 I agree. In theory yes, but in practice it always leads to a exploitative and violent situation.
All trade in all forms generally lead to exploitive situation. Humanity overall practically spirals down to exploitation. If you sell a product to someone while knowing he could walk a block down to buy a good for a lower price is also exploitation.
At the end, no matter what relationship will be between countries, all long term trade will inevitably most likely end in exploitation be from an NGO or a state owned prop
Mealy mouthed politicians are never prepared to accept the consequences. They leave that to soldiers.
The Algerian war of independency in a nutshell.
I know comment sections are always filled with praise of movies they show but this is probably my single favorite scene of any movie ever.
It gets to the heart of fighting political battles: what do you believe most of all? And if you know you believe it, you must know that everything else you pretend to care about is second order.
In this case, the general was clear in the way the journalists were not. He knew exactly what he wanted, to force the people of Algeria to live under French rule.
I never sided with the French in this movie. I find it impossible too. But the general knew exactly what he was doing and why.
Do you respect nazis too ?
@@HoussamNekkaa Ok that is absolutely touche. Respect was way too strong of a word. I'll edit.
It’s Ironic that he’s talking about their fight against Nazism.
Alien Alien I feel a little insulted. I have family members who died fighting the French imperial army. My father faught against the French colony. My maternal grand father fought the Nazis in Corsica in 1943 and in Italy In 43/44, with the third Algerian ( French ) infantry division. Before he returned to Algeria and was among the first to start the liberation war against the French colony, his house was burned to the ground in 1956 and was jailed for 3 years.
Then you’re watching the wrong videos. You should be on TikTok
@Alien Alien Oh but it is ironic. He's using the fact that he fought against the Nazis as a justification. To me it shows how messy war ist and how really nothing stops countries from becoming oppressive forces. An oppressive force is even likely to turn its opposition into one as well.
@@RassBrass So he died fighting Napoleon? That's the only time France had an Imperial Army.
Prins van Oranje France second colonial empire began with the conquest of Algiers in 1830.
Lizard Cammies and Persol Sunglasses. Military Haut Couture. Colonel Mattieu walks at the head of the column. It is implied "If you wish to offend France then offend me. France and I are the same."
He also throws the "just following orders" defense back in his critics faces. His argument goes, "This is a democratic society with a free press. Unless you people are ready to grant independence to Algeria right this minute, I'm following YOUR orders."
Israel and Palestine summed up
🇺🇸 🇮🇱
Two countries, similar system
🇺🇸 🫂 🇵🇸 #PalestinianLivesMatter
I think many rightwinger simply misinterpret what Colonel Matthieu said. He didn't say he enjoy tortures. Colonel Matthieu said it clearly: when the FLN wants to throw us out and we want to stay.
It is not like Rightwingers that don't bother to have any clear objective and treat tortures like a state-run horror show.
Whatever. What soldiers call their job when they know perfectly well torture is against the Geneva convention, I call hypocrisy.
I took it as "we in the army are an instrument of the will of the republic, and in a democracy, the French people through its representatives have directed us to stay and use whatever methods are needed to achieve that goal. The people cannot then shift their guilt and the blame to us for carrying out their will - the responsibility for the consequences/methods remains with them for putting us here and ordering us to keep Algeria to keep under French rule. When they tell us to leave, we will."
He is no-bullshit and well-articulated. Even if you disagree with him, he has a point.
What point ? Torture?? Asshol !!!!!!
oh UA-cam commenters and their love of fascists
@@brucesnow7125oh UA-cam commentator and their penchant for knee jerk ad hominem.
@@brucesnow7125Your mom is gay
The man's not a fascist, he's a political/ideological realist. You may believe his cause is unjust, but he's motivated by a desire to protect his people and his country. In essence, his aims are those shared by all great statesmen throughout history.
Legit, the same thing is happening in Palestine today.
Exactly, this movie explains why things like Hamas exist in the first place, because of the oppression over their lives.
Where the analogy falls apart is that France could choose to leave and go back across the Mediterranean...while even if they completely withdrew, Israel is going to have to live with an independent Palestine next door.
@@TomG1555 and ofcourse Palestine with Isreal next door is not acceptable for Hamas
Respect to Tobey Maguire. Our grand brother.
Cette film est banni en France. Je suis un Arabe-Muslim et je dis encore, "Vivre Algeria!!"
Why did they stay in Algeria?
Ressources and investment, especailly in early 20th century when oil was being discovered.
They didn't want to just remain in Algeria, they wanted Algeria without the Algerians.
“Those who call us ‘fascists’ forget the role we played in the Resistance.”
You sure as hell sound like Hitler saying you want to rule Algeria with an iron fist.
Bill O Reilley and other talking heads copied this exact speech with "Do you want to win the war on terror....yes or no?"
Beautiful - outstanding. This film was banned in France for supposedly taking the Algerian FLN terrorist side - but... I think this French Colonel Massu counter terrorist man has the best lines. Hell yes, fight terror with counter terror.
i wonder who started the terror? is it the algerians who invaded france or the other way around?, focus when sharing your ideas and opinions with others, it is often how fools are exposed "when they open their mouths".
Are you saying the terrorists are the ones who decided to fight for their country and freedom and free their people from mass genocide and inhumane treatment and the rape of women from french soldiers?
Maybe I misunderstood, but are you calling the Algerians ter*or*sts for fighting for their country against the French foreign invaders?
Thank God French imperialism has been kicked out of Algeria so there's no torture there anymore!
Hoho
'those who call us fascists' there's more than one type of fascist. And there ain't no rule stating 'fascists' can't kill each other l.
I like how term "fascism" has been bastardized to describe any politically incorrect group. Anything that's bad just goes into this bag now))
I’m sick of those bastards using the Holocaust to get away with the war crimes. This does not make them any better than the Nazis we fought in the war.
That’s like my Dad taking sides when all I wanted was to end the Arab Israeli war peacefully.
That blue and yellow object on the left side of your name looks like a kitty-cat.
Presse
If only men like these would take charge
Men like them are in charge
But they've lost evenually...long live my great Algeria.
@Alien Alien Try the Pentagon or the State Department
@@seanmcmanus2777 Right now corrupt bureaucrats are in power.
@@markhenley3097 You think pen pushers taking kickback didn't exist in 1958?
WWII, French in Algeria, USA in the Vietnam war, Portuguese colonial wars, Rhodesian Bush war, South Africa border war, ..... All the same story...... The armed forces were winning the war but in the end lost. Sometimes the WINNERS lose and the LOSERS win, and everytime this happen they are in fact, always the good guys and.. the whole world and sometimes even their own politicians are against them.... And in the end we find out that they are and were the good guys since the very beginning.
So ein Unsinn.
FLN=Hamas in Palestine
May the Palestinian Armed Resistance be a way to achieve Liberation just like how Algerian Armed Resistance was one🤍✨
🇵🇸❤️🇩🇿
You have Boer flag in your pfp so ofc you sympathize with these disgusting colonial overlords.
And prove what exactly? That the condition was horrible and after that terrible colonization and war, everyone suffered despite the national liberation movement victory? If people had accepted the boots, they wouldn't rebel in the first place.
mental gymnastics