Review of La Haine (1995) by Rian P — 17 Feb 2013

La Haine is european cinema at its brilliant best. It may appear to some as being rash, not very well constructed and a bit lost in its world. But thats what its about. Its about three youths, from different racial backgrounds who find themselves doing rash, inappropriate acts of violence and disruption, in a world that they are visably, LOST. If some people actually did some research into 1980's 1990's paris then you would learn to appreciate the immensity of this film. The beginning clearly examplifies the meaning behind the film, that youth culture became distorted and lost in a world where popular culture and westernisation was by all means, there only way of escape.

The delusional group of youths is brillaintly portrayed by the change in the worlds which they cross (worlds being the suburbs and the city), where the cinematography brings in the natural surroundiongs, to portray the corrupted youth through signs, bill boards and graffiti. The motif of falling cements the circular narrative where the film ends at its beginning - "It's not how you fall, but its how you land". and this constant reference of this man falling from a sky scrapper stating "so far so good... so far so good" again, brings the narrative together and keeps audience intrigued and engaged untill the films abrubpt but menacingly, brilliant ending. I really love how the many great landmarks of Paris are barely in view, or are atleast a mere speck in the distance, which helps us understand how far the characters are away from reality, or on the other hand, how far the city is away from their reality or reality itself.

To really appreciate the movie, you MUST understand its background story. You MUST understand its characters. You MUST realise how REAL this film really is. A triumph and an awakening to europe at the thime.