Sadly Over-hyped

Highly Overrated But Still Good

A Brilliant Conflict

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

It was movie that touched a string and left my mind empty of thoughts. Those views of the Algerien desert were magnificent. They pointed out something that we seem to forget again again: we are so small in the background of nature. I've often read in books about how the immensity of the desert humbles human beings but I never understood what it meant. Living in a place like that seems to have made the school teacher realize how precious is life and how small is the importance of human squabbles. Quiet... That seems to be the predominant sound of the movie. Or more likely peace, a peace that Daru attempts to keep by turning a blind eye to the chaos that seems to start brewing around him. However, eventually he can not bring himself to sacrifice his values in order to keep his peaceful life. The movie also shows the incipient stages of what we today call terrorism. Daru's perspective is very interesting. As a child who is born by Spanish parents in an Arabic country and who is also a French citizen he belongs to three nations and to none in the same time. Thus he has insight on all three cultures from a rather impartial perspective. He is not touched by excessive nationalism and can see analyze their cultures from a wider point of view. We can see in this movie what could be called the calm before the storm. The inhabitants of the Arabic world are starting what they call a "revolution". From their point of view their actions represent their path to freedom, liberation from the oppression of foreign tyranny. We are used to see the terrorists as villains but perhaps they are victims just as match as we are.

Brilliant performances by Mortensen and Betak, who play two men and show their story in a war torn 1950s Algiere. The film has a progressive build of relationship between the two characters which is fantastic. They evolve deeply and create definite emotion throughout film; a fantastic effort with character development. Definititely one of Mortensen's best performances. If a film is better than just good I will usually give it a 7.5-8. This french slow paced drama scrapes itself a 9. It exceeded my expectations. It accomplished conveying the story very well. An original score from Nick Cave as well, which perhaps has a slight hint of a downfall. So far one of the two best European films of the year.

This is a story about a fraternity that goes beyond cleavages and prejudices. A quiet and brave rebellion against nonsense of violence. Charlie, Niger... That's so cruelly acute to current events. No doubt this story, that takes place in Algeria in 1954, could have been transposed in 2015 or later.The film is beautiful, it takes its time without being never boring. Action and contemplation are wonderfully balanced.The relationship between two men, both excluded from their communities, "étrangers" (foreigners) in more than a way, is moving. Each of us is an Arab or a paria for someone else.Reda Kateb, Viggo Mortensen and the Atlas are glowing, simply fascinating.

What a pure delight this terrific movie made in natural settings. We find here Viggo Mortensen at his very best, at his peak. The kind of lonesome, tired hero as he was in HISTORY OF VIOLENCE or EASTERN PROMISES, although quite different, but somewhere similar...The kind of hero whom I have always been in love with. Far from the super hero on whom I puke. I hate. Rade Kateb gives also here a powerful performance, as usual. You have in this feature the sad and beautiful story of a short and poignant friendship during war in Algeria. Two very different men who will have to fit together, against all odds. A gripping, poignant drama that made me weep. The school teacher's character played by Mortensen is terrific. One of the most brilliant performances I have ever seen since a long time, believe me. I will comment soon another movie about war in Algeria, a rare film named L'OPIUM ET LE BATON. Back to this one, I would have imagined Madds Mikaelsen in Motensen character. Those two are tremendous actors, very similar in many ways. But that's my own opinion.