Dark Night, October 17, 1961

In Alain Tasma's film, set during one of the darkest moments of the Algerian War of Independence, Parisian authorities come into conflict with the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). As the war neared its end and violence continued in the streets of Paris, the FLN and its supporters resorted to assassinating French policemen in an attempt to force a French withdrawal. In response, French law enforcement retaliated with brutal treatment of Algerians and imposed a strict curfew. The FLN then organized a peaceful demonstration that attracted over 11,000 participants, prompting the Paris police chief to order harsh countermeasures. Tasma's film presents the events through the perspectives of both French police officers and Algerian protestors, seeking to explore the tragedy by depicting both sides of the conflict.