Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961 (2005): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2005, Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961 is a drama, tv movie and history film directed by Alain Tasma, running about 120 minutes.

What it’s about. Parisian authorities clash with the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) in director Alain Tasma’s recounting of one of the darkest moments of the Algerian War of Independence. As the war wound to a close and violence persisted in the streets of Paris, the FLN and its supporters adopted the tactic of murdering French policemen in hopes of forcing a withdrawal. When French law enforcement retaliated by brutalizing Algerians and imposing a strict curfew, the FLN organizes a peaceful demonstration that drew over 11,000 supporters, resulting in an order from the Paris police chief to take brutal countermeasures. Told through the eyes of both French policemen as well as Algerian protestors, Tasma’s film attempts to get to the root of the tragedy by presenting both sides of the story.

Who’s in it. Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961 stars Clotilde Courau as Sabine, Thierry Fortineau as Papon, Jean-Michel Portal as Martin and Ouassini Embarek as Abdé, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961 has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961 page.

If you liked it. Fans of Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961 tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.