Algerian and French filmmakers have dealt differently with the Algerian War, which has nonetheless remained an obscure part of their national histories. From the years that immediately followed the conflict to the 2000s, cinema policies and production contexts have changed, affecting the politics of representation in each country. Adopting a chronological approach to Algerian and French cinemas, this article evokes the various phases behind the construction of the collective memory of the Algerian War of Independence. From state- to self-censorship, to melancholy renderings of the past and nationalist appropriations of history, French and Algerian cinemas confront distinct problematics. They provide challenging tools for comprehending the legacy of the war over collective memory, which the historian may exploit to promote further understanding between the two countries.