Steve McQueen, one of the most influential filmmakers of the 21st century, is well-known for his gritty, thought-provoking work that often explores difficult social and political themes. Films like 12 Years a Slave and Shame have solidified McQueen as a master of depicting the complexities of human emotion and the harsh realities of systemic injustice.
With a sharp eye for human struggle and a deep interest in the politics of power, McQueen has long been an advocate for using film as a tool to challenge, question, and reshape perceptions of race, class, and history.
In addition to his own accomplishments as a director, McQueen is an avid cinephile, and his personal list of favorite films gives insight into the kind of cinema that has inspired him over the years.
He once shared his all-time favourite titles with BFI’s Sight and Sound list of filmmakers’ own list of greatest movies of all time.
Among his top picks is a war film from 1966, a political masterpiece set during the Algerian War of Independence. This film, widely regarded as one of the most important of the 20th century, is The Battle of Algiers (1966), directed by Gillo Pontecorvo.
While McQueen’s own work frequently explores the devastating effects of power and violence, The Battle of Algiers is particularly influential for its portrayal of resistance, colonialism, and the moral complexities of urban warfare.
The Battle of Algiers recounts the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule, specifically the violent confrontations in the capital city of Algiers during the 1950s. The film follows both the French military’s brutal tactics to suppress the uprising and the Algerian FLN (National Liberation Front) militants’ desperate attempts to free their people.
What sets The Battle of Algiers apart is its unflinching portrayal of both sides, presenting the violence and moral ambiguity of war in a way that forces the audience to confront difficult truths.
The film is notable for its documentary-style realism, shot with handheld cameras and featuring non-professional actors, including actual Algerian activists. This style gave the film an immediacy and authenticity that allowed it to feel raw and unrelenting. The result is a film that feels less like a historical drama and more like an immersive experience in the heat of conflict.
For McQueen, The Battle of Algiers is “such a great example of what cinema can do. Going beyond entertainment and actually crossing over into the everyday. It became a rallying call for action”.
Even though it was made nearly 60 years ago, the film’s portrayal of resistance, violence, and the moral costs of war, as well as its groundbreaking cinematography, the way it captures the emotional and physical toll of both the oppressed and the oppressors, continues to influence filmmakers all over the world.
McQueen’s list of top films includes other cinematic masterpieces that also explore complex themes and challenge traditional storytelling techniques, like ZÉRO DE CONDUITE (1933), Couch (1966) by Andy Warhol, La Règle du jeu (1939) and Do The Right Thing (1989).
The Battle of Algiers is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.