In the film The Battle of Algiers by Gillo Pontecorvo, music plays an essential role in every scene of the film. For example, when there are French soldiers marching through the streets, the music has a mysterious atmosphere to indicate that there is an imminent attack. When you look at the French point of view it has a European tone and when you switch to the Algerian point of view it has a North African feel. Ennio Morricone's score draws attention to these horrific attacks and allows the viewer to feel sympathy for both the Algerians and the French. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Battle of Algiers describes the bloody struggles of Algerian rebels known as the National Liberation Front (FLN), as they launch a gorilla-style war against French settlers. Many scenes show rebels blowing up largely occupied French areas. These various bombings begin an all-out war that forces many French soldiers to begin an intense search for FLN members. The aim of these various FLN attacks is to push the Algerian people to resist the French. During their first large-scale attack, the European fighting song is played instead of the Algerian theme song, because it shows that the French are still the dominant power in Algeria. While these attacks demonstrate that the FLN is resisting, the music also helps signify that Algerians are all truly united in the fight against a common enemy. The music that suggests this makes the viewer feel the struggle of the FLN as they plan resistance movements and try to unite their people to fight a similar enemy. During big riot scenes the music sounds like you're watching a documentary. This effect creates the feeling that the footage you are watching actually happened and is the real deal. Watching the aftermath of each attack while the music plays gives you a sense of sympathy for these innocent people caught in the crossfire of this bloody revolution. During the initial filming of the film Pontecorvo whistled during filming so as not to lose the rhythm of the film. He did this because music was an essential element in the film as it helped portray both parties equally and gave them similarities. The French counterinsurgency tactic of torturing people to gather information is understood in religious music, because it creates an emphasis on this increased authority and the degradation that each prisoner endures. The music in these scenes creates a symbol of these characters allowing them to feel as if they are transcended and giving them an almost sacred personality. According to renowned film critic Pauline Kael, the soundtrack describes it as “a form of agitation: at times, the strange percussive sound is like an engine failing to start; the pounding music gives the audience a sense of impending horror at every critical point; the high-pitched, rhythmic, bird-like cries from the Casbah tell us that all life is thrilling and cries out for freedom. Kael's quote makes an excellent point about the use of music in each scene. You describe it more or less as an “engine that fails to start” because the FLN has difficulty finding the support of the majority of the Algerian population. After the devastating French attack in an Algerian neighborhood, Algerians unite after witnessing the horrors of the aftermath. At this time the Algerian fight song begins to create a unity among all the local Algerians. After the devastation many Algerians join the FLN to take revenge for the destruction of theirs.