Outside the Law (2010)

Algeria's War for Independence remains a contentious subject. Not a far-off colony like Indochina, Algeria was an incorporated region of France with a large settler population (pied noirs), making its 1954-1962 revolution especially bitter. Besides the conflict's nastiness - widespread torture, terrorist bombings and up to 1,000,000 deaths - the fallout embroiled France in several military coups, a domestic terror campaign and an influx of pied noirs and loyalist Algerians (and massacre of those remaining in Algeria). Algeria descended into a brutal dictatorship, more recently experiencing civil war with Islamist groups. Algerian immigration to France remains a tense issue between these nations.

Outside the Law (2010) provides a controversial take on this "War Without a Name." It compares favorably to past portrayals: Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1966) is masterful Algerian propaganda cleverly framed as a docudrama, while Jean Larteguy's novel The Centurions invests its hard-bitten paratroopers with nationalist angst. Rachid Boucherab's film is less flattering towards FLN and France alike. Its ambiguity and diverse protagonists make it refreshingly complex.

Three Algerian brothers, separated by 1945's Setif Massacre, reunite ten years later in southern France. Abdelkadr (Sami Bouajila) spent the intervening decade in prison for nationalist agitation; Moussaud (Roschdy Zem) is an ex-paratrooper who survived Dien Bien Phu; and Said (Jamel Debouzze), an amoral criminal. The three form the nucleus of an FLN cell within France. They target both French officials and rival MNA nationalists, aided by French leftists. Abdelkadr's single-mindedness alienates his brothers, with Massoud pining over his wife (Louiza Nehar) and Said's devotion to his nightclub undermining his commitment. The French government brings in Colonel Faivre (Bernard Blancan), who forms a paramilitary unit - the Red Hand - to beat FLN at its own game.

Outside the Law re-frames Algeria's struggle as a stylish gangster movie. Bouchareb stages smoke-filled meetings in restaurants and night clubs, clothes his heroes in pinstripe suits and lifts set pieces (Said stabbing a traitorous Caid, a mistaken car bombing) from The Godfather. The FLN certainly appear as brutal thugs, whether extorting supporters or murdering rival nationalists. The heroes have the panache of the Corleones in their period duds and colorful assassinations (including a daring raid on a police station), but Western viewers may have trouble cheering them on.

Not that this ambiguity ill-serves the drama. Indeed, Bocuherab presents three commendably complex protagonists. Abdelkadr is a frightening extremist willing to provoke police raids and sacrifice anyone in furtherance of independence. Massoud proves more sympathetic, his bitterness and family loyalty drawing him to a fight he's ambivalent about, while Said remains interested in business. A subplot has Said grooming an Algerian boxer (Assadd Bouab) to be France's heavyweight champion. The FLN views this as unacceptable: any Algerian glory, sporting or otherwise, must accrue to Algeria.

The movie came under fire for historical license. FLN activities in France were more modest than the film suggests, while Boucherab's comparing their exploits to the wartime Resistance will rankle some viewers. More contentious is the staging of the Setif Massacre: hardly an unprovoked "police riot," French reprisals came after Muslim rioters killed 103 Europeans. But Alistair Horne notes that "even if one were to accept the very lowest figure [of 1,000 Muslims killed]… it still represents… ten-to-one over-kill." Boucherab correctly marks Setif as the catalyst for Algerian nationalism and, along with a childhood eviction, the protagonists' formative event.

Outside the Law grows more predictable in its second half. With Faivre's arrival the movie falls into cops-and-robbers plot conventions, with man-hunting, chases and shootouts. Fortunately, Boucherab compensates with engaging set pieces and a downbeat ending. And the script by Boucherab and Olivier Lorelle remains commendably lean, with few subplots and only a wisp of romance (Abdelkadr's flirtations with leftist Helene [Sabrina Segvecou]) to distract from the main story.

Most of the actors worked on Boucherab's Days of Glory (2006), and all excel here. Sami Bouajila makes Abdelkadr a single-minded revolutionary to make Tom Courtenay's Strelnikov flee in terror. Roschdy Zem is perfect as a man scarred both physically and mentally, while Jamel Debouzze makes an agreeable hustler. Bernard Blancan is a ferocious villain but no Colonel Matthieu. The female roles are sparse, though Chafia Boudra's matriarch gets some choice dialogue.

Outside the Law falls just short of greatness. Despite a familiar conclusion, it's still a powerful, revisionist look at a bloody conflict.