Review of La Haine (1995) by Roderick D — 20 Apr 2008

We start with some innovative camera movement for it's time. Some "MTV type" shots and editing before it actually became known as such. So far so good. We have Matthieu Kassovitz directing only his second feature film, and the reunion of Kazzovitz's proteges Vincent Cassel and Hubert Kounde who were in his first feature "Metisse".

SO far so good. The film follows Viny, Hubert and Said as three ethnic French youths who live in the poor side of Paris, and shows the racism and division in the society at the time. The friends our out doing nothing while waiting to hear the result of their friend's fate who was in the hospital trying to pull through a severe beating he received a riot the night before.

The film captures the soul of a generation of struggling French youth who are caught in race wars they didn't start and are frustrated with the bleakness of their future. This hatred comes out in some of their inflammatory encounters with police and other racist groups.

But what the film does nicely is it not only demonstrates some of the circles our hate for each other puts us in, but it also professes that this hate will be the end of us all. A true modern day masterpiece, from cinematic technique, all the way through the narrative and editing.

La Haine is so far, so great!