Andrew Kimura

I watched this film as a requirement for a class on the history of colonization and was honestly shocked by the overall quality. Basically every element worked for me: the characters/acting was flawless, the violence was deliberate without being excessive or grotesque, the plot kept me engaged, and the depiction of colonization managed to be simultaneously hyper-accurate to Algeria and applicable to any setting. Even amongst all these excellent features, the most striking aspect of the composition for me was the editing. There were many shots which stood out as visually compelling and the storytelling itself was enhanced considerably by the editor's choices (I will not be any more specific than this because I really think you should just watch for yourself). One of the best movies I've ever seen and an undeniably influential work in the development of 20th century historical dramas and the landscape of filmmaking in general.