The Battle of Algiers

Peter and Andrew tackle Gillo Pontecorvo's groundbreaking war film The Battle of Algiers, examining how it revolutionized the genre by refusing to pick heroes and villains. They discuss the film's documentary-style approach, its complex portrayal of colonial conflict, and why it remains one of cinema's most powerful anti-war statements.

In their remake scenarios, they face a big challenge: How do you make a brutal war film family-friendly? (Spoiler: animated animals might be involved.) Plus, they explore how this story might work as a prestige TV series and discuss their ongoing screenplay project.

The hosts also chat about their current viewing habits, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Friends, I Think You Should Leave, The Detroiters, and Portlandia. They also reference The Wire, Chernobyl, Zero Dark Thirty, Death of Stalin, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life, Lion King, Jojo Rabbit, and Blackhawk Down.

Topics covered: Documentary-style filmmaking, the ethics of war, colonial history, non-professional actors, event-driven vs. character-driven narratives, and films that prioritize message over entertainment.