The Battle of Algiers - Characters & Cast

Initially motivated by a raw sense of injustice and a desire for dignity, Ali's motivation evolves into a deep political commitment to freeing Algeria from French colonial rule. He is driven by a desire to fight back against the humiliation and brutality of the occupation and to create a self-determined future for his people.

Ali begins as an illiterate street criminal, boxer, and gambler, concerned primarily with his own survival. His arrest and imprisonment become a turning point after he witnesses the execution of an Algerian nationalist. Upon his release, he is recruited by the FLN. He transforms from a petty thief into a disciplined and committed revolutionary leader, embodying the radicalization of a generation of Algerians. His arc culminates in his defiant death, becoming a martyr for the cause of independence.

Mathieu is motivated by a soldier's duty to win and a belief in the necessity of maintaining French control over Algeria. He sees the conflict not in moral terms but as a tactical problem to be solved. He argues that if the political decision is to remain in Algeria, then one must accept all the "necessary consequences," including torture, to achieve that goal.

Colonel Mathieu does not have a traditional character arc; he arrives in Algiers as a fully formed, highly efficient counter-insurgency expert and remains so throughout the film. He is a veteran of the French Resistance and the Indochina War, which informs his ruthless pragmatism. His character serves as a personification of the cold, logical, and brutal methodology of modern warfare. He successfully achieves his military objective—destroying the FLN's leadership in Algiers—but his victory is ultimately hollow, as it fails to address the underlying political will for independence.

Jaffar is motivated by a deep-seated commitment to Algerian independence. He is the strategist who understands the need for both violent action and political maneuvering. He aims to make the cost of French occupation untenable while also galvanizing the Algerian people and attracting international support for their cause.

As a top commander in the FLN, Jaffar (based on and played by the actual historical figure Yacef Saâdi) is the strategic mind of the revolution in Algiers. He recruits and guides Ali La Pointe, channeling his raw anger into disciplined action. His arc shows the immense pressure on the leadership of a rebellion. He orchestrates the attacks but also makes the pragmatic decision to surrender when cornered to avoid further civilian casualties, demonstrating a leader's complex responsibilities.