La Haine

After more than 20 years since its release, the Mathieu Kassovitz's black

andwhitemasterpiece isstill relevant in itsdescription of

the hardships of the french banlieue

After more than 20 years since its release, the Mathieu Kassovitz's blackandwhite masterpiece isstill relevant in itsdescription ofthe hardships of the french banlieue

“La Haine” is a 1995 french black and white drama directed by

Mathieu Kassovitz featuring Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and Saïd

Taghmaoui as the main characters, the title comes from a line said

by Hubert, “la haine attire la haine”, in english “hatred breeds

hatred”. The idea of the movie comes from the killing of a young

man, Makome M’Bowole, in 1993; he was shot by a cop while he

was handcuffed and in custody in a police station. The plot follow

three young men the day after some massive riots in the banlieue,

and their struggle into staying afloat in a world that seems like it’s

trying to destroy them. ⠀

The resulting story is a film that deeply attack the way media portray

young people, but most of all the lack of opportunities for young

people, that then proceed to enter a life of “crime” or at least not

completely legal.

“La Haine” is a 1995 french black and white drama directed byMathieu Kassovitz featuring Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and SaïdTaghmaoui as the main characters, the title comes from a line saidby Hubert, “la haine attire la haine”, in english “hatred breedshatred”. The idea of the movie comes from the killing of a young man, Makome M’Bowole, in 1993; he was shot by a cop while hewas handcuffed and in custody in a police station.

The plot follow three young men the day after some massive riots in the banlieue, and their struggle into staying afloat in a world that seems like it’s trying to destroy them. The resulting story is a film that deeply attack the way media portray young people, but most of all the lack of opportunities for young people, that then proceed to enter a life of “crime” or at least not completely legal.

All of this, while the police, the state and theinstitutions act like

their enemy; this theme isburning and urgent, and in order to

make itmore clear to the audience, the film is shot in a

guerrilla-style method, with short range shots, tomake you feel

like you are living that situation with the characters.The result

is a punch in thestomach to all the bourgeoisie who feel like the

problems of the other don’t affect them; anangry, dirty, urban

and surreal film that arisesfrom the anger and indignation

of the directorand the public to the way the french system ishandling the

situation in the banlieue.⠀

All of this, while the police, the state and the institutions act like their enemy; this theme is burning and urgent, and in order to make it more clear to the audience, the film is shot in a guerrilla-style method, with short range shots, to make you feel like you are living that situation with the characters.

The result is a punch in the stomach to all the bourgeoisie who feel like the problems of the other don’t affect them; an angry, dirty, urban and surreal film that arises from the anger and indignation of the director and the public to the way the french system is handling the situation in the banlieue.⠀