Bombshells

During last Tuesday’s lecture on Terrorism, I was reminded of a the film, The Battle of Algiers (1966) by Gillo Pontecorvo.



In the film, three Arab women undergo a process of transformation, cutting their hair, putting on makeup, and wearing European style clothes in order to resemble French women. They are then able to place bombs in heavily populated French areas without detection. Similar to the anecdote discussed in class about the Russian women who was acquitted by a jury after committing an act of terror, the viewer understands that these women believe their actions are necessary and justified. In both cases, the women are not technically suicide bombers because they do no die in the act. There is a personal connection to the source of meaning which provokes violent actions. In this clip, the viewer both sympathizes with the Arab women placing the bombs, sensing their fear and uncertainty, and with the unassuming French victims. I am reminded that not all terrorists are religious fanatics, and it is important to consider the social and economic factors, which provoke acts (especially as anthropology students).

I cannot embed the scene of the women placing the bombs. if you are interested, please copy and paste this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oAtMMvnDy0&feature=related