TRNN: France's Post Colonial Past and Blowback

[swilton]

Last edited Wed Nov 18, 2015, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Glen Ford is the guest.

On Edit: During the discussion Jared Ball mentions the classic French film The Battle of Algiers to better understand the relationship between France and its colonial subjects. That is indeed a highly recommended and critically acclaimed film to understand French colonialism. That film was 'inside the Beltway' viewing prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Here is the IMBD link.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058946/

The film is available on NETFLIX.

I also would recommend two films, also critically acclaimed, by a French Algerian film director-writer (also award winning) Rachid Bouchareb.
Although he has directed many films with critical acclaim - here's a Wikkepedia reference -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachid_Bouchareb

the two films that I thought were most edifying about France and its relationships to colonial subjects and those subjects whom become French citizens were the following films.................with IMBD links -


Outside the Law - about Algerian emigres to France, their service to France in the Vietnam War and then their participation in the Algerian independence movement within France.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229381/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_6

And then there is Days of Glory - which is about Algerians fighting to liberate France from Nazi Germany only to be denied benefits of French pensions post WWII.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444182/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_8

Both Days of Glory and Outside the Law were Oscar nominees. I would recommend any film directed by Rachid Bouchareb and here is yet one more link to his work as listed within IMBD.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0098953/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

But if the above isn't enough to stimulate interest in French colonial relationships with Arabs, there is also the French relationship to Vietnam. My favorite film illustrating colonialism in Vietnam is - Vietnam/Indochine which won the Oscar for best foreign language film in 1992.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104507/

[TrollBuster9090]

1. Hah! That picture is from 'Battle of Algiers.'

I remember it very well, as I went to see it in college with some girl I was trying to impress. I didn't impress her, but I liked the movie.

But yes, there's quite a lot of colonialism that France has to ask for (Algeria, Vietnam, Rwanda, Cambodia). You'd think the USA, which theoretically against colonialism, would have seen what happened to France, and chosen to stay out of their mess. Vietnam was obvious proof that we learned nothing from history.

[swilton]

2. Thanks for your feedback - I just updated the thread with a few more illuminations about colonialism

as depicted through French cinema.