Review of La Haine (1995) by Ricky C — 06 Sep 2011

We're presented with a bleak and almost joyless Paris cityscape, thanks to stark and brutally rewarding black-and-white direction from Kassovitz. The effect is two fold; it helps enhance the grim environment and social conditions our three youngster live in and it also brings to focus the racism and social divide they often experience. Your attention is grabbed immediately, and it won't like you go until the very end.

However, this is not to say that the film isn't enjoyable. It won't depress you or make for uncomfortable viewing. The visuals are gripping, but so too are the performances. Cassel and Kounde do stand out, but Taghmaoui is brilliant too; bringing warmth and humour to roles which are also searing with frustration, disillusionment and boredom. You sometimes sympathise with them, but you also see how the represent a crumbling society that will always seem to come around with almost every generation. We share their frustrations and we hope they don't produce "hate from hate," as Kounde's character warns, but deep down we know something will go wrong.

Featuring some amazing stand-out scenes, including one in a bathroom involving a conversation with an old man, this film is hard to forget. It was inspired by similar movies (Do the Right Thing), and I can only hope more directors tackle such issues with such an intense, unyielding attitude.