Review of La Haine (1995) by Ivonne K — 23 May 2009

If someone asked me the plot description of "La Haine" I would detail it as follows: We follow three friends as they seemingly venture through a single day. Granted this particular day is a little more peculiar than usual, as its on the heel of a major riot with police the night before, but seemingly its "a day in the life" type of film.

The plot itself is strung together through random meetings that mimic the often break neck speed of life, which makes the film plodding at times, but all the more exhilirating for playing to the often randomness of our lives.

"La Haine", written and directed with a keen sense of the parisian streets by Mathieu Kassovitz, is gorgeously shot in black and white, giving it a much needed edge as we take to the streets with our main characters.

As we follow the characters through out their day, Kassovitz is able to generate a depiction of not only the parisian streets, but also is able to create a honest portrayal of the three friends (as played by Cassel, Kounde, and Taghmaoui) as their banter is both hilarious and a testament to their respective characters.

Of course, there is more to "La Haine" then following characters around. Instead, its a morality piece and a social expose on the conflict that brews between the parisian police and the everyday citizens.

Yet Kassovitz and company refuse to deliver their message by pounding it into the skull of the viewer. Instead, its a delicate and often stunning combination of the everyday actions of our main characters and their social unrest boiling below, as both simultaneously feed into the other, creating an often complex film that builds and builds to a climax that isn't necessarily a happy one.

..but its the right one.