The Algerian War of Independence (195462), also known as the Algerian Revolution, was a messy and vicious conflict that took place between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front. Waged primarily in Algeria, it severely traumatized citizens on both sides of the Mediterranean. In France, it is known as the war without a name, and it has had a troubled legacy in both France and Algeria to this day. In other parts of the world, it remains something of a mystery. Inspired by real events, Algériennes tells the story of this confrontation, with a special focus on the largely overlooked role of women.
Following the investigative efforts of Beatrice, the child of a French soldier who wants to know more about the war, this poignantly narrated and beautifully illustrated graphic novel tells the stories of the women who fought with the National Liberation Front. The mujahidates, as they were called, were soldiers; they were victims of bombings, rape, and torture; they were French women born in Algeria and later scorned as pieds-noirs (black-feet) when they returned to the mainland. Taken from sworn testimony, their stories intersect and complete one another over the course of the narrative. Algériennes depicts women from all backgrounds who were motivated by very real experiencesthe loss of a family member, a genuine desire to help, feelings of exile, love. Together, these stories create a powerful and compelling narrative that shines a light on the unseen women's war within the larger war between men in Algeria.
