Introduction

The introductory chapter of this book is split into several parts. In part one, it provides a historical outline of the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), summarising how this war impacted upon French society and culture. Part two examines the discourse of ‘redemptive pacifism’ that emerged in response to this war, before shifting to a discussion of what exactly constitutes ‘late-colonial French cinema’ in part three. Part four considers the impact of pre-censorship, censorship, and self-censorship on industry professionals, before the chapter ends with a summary of the interdisciplinary methodology used in the book, alongside its structure and argument.