A powerful scene in this film is when the police chief is getting the day-to-day info on the shootings and deaths. He realizes they are terrorist attacks by the algerians.  He is in his office, on the phone, telling the person who is taking down the info the dates, times, and ways of the attacks. There is uncertainty and fear in his voice.  In addition, the filmmaker makes him look nervous by showing him wiping down the sweat off his forehead and getting a glass of alcohol to drink. He is pacing around the room and looking out the window. There is a close up shot of him in front of the window with the blurry backround showing the future Battle of Algiers that is going to take place in the city that is behind him, which is calm at night behind him.  He does not fully know what to do and how to take on the previous attacks- where many of the policemen have died. This is a powerful scene because it is very realistic and pauses after the violent attacks, there is a: ” calm before the storm”.