La Haine

?
View mindmap
  • La Haine
    • Film Techniques
      • The ticking of the clock underlines the monotone and boring lives of the adolescents, but also the growing tension as if something is going to explode
      • the usage of black and white symbolises the grey and uneventful, sombre lives of the men that they must live daily
        • it also provides the atmosphere of a documentary to highlight that the tension between the adolescents and the police is a real-life current event that must not go unnoticed
      • DJ Cut Killer's scene which is a remix of "Sound of da Police" and Édith Piaf, to contextualise the clash of American and French cultures and express the struggles of the youths that aren't subject to American culture as portrayed in the media, as it's also a rampant issue in France
      • the scenes in the suburbs are generally filmed with a wide angle (filmé au grand angle), whereas in Paris it's with a longer lens (objectif téléphoto). This is to emphasise the closeness of the environment and the people within it, whilst the background characters in Paris stand out.
      • in the banlieue, there is very often music to provide 'the sound of the suburbs': representing a large mix of the different cultures and ethnicities to produce one hybrid mix e.g. jewish folk music in Vinz's dream, the African music playing when Hubert comes home, the American funk in his room, hip-hop with the youths breakdancing and arab music at the boxing match. This differs in Paris where there's no real music except background noise (alien territory where the youths are lost)
    • Characters
      • all three characters are representative of oppressed groups in French society, but they all make up the unemployed working class young males on the suburban estates
      • Hubert symbolises the main message of the film: that nobody can escape the suburbs, even if they only have good intentions and try their best. It's impssible as a result of the systemic racism and injustice.
      • Hubert has a purpose in life, seen through his posters on the wall and his passion for boxing, which is why he wants to leave. When he commits crime, it's to escape or support his family - or, in retaliation to being mistreated e.g. his violence in the Parisian police station
      • Vinz puts on an act to appear like an American gangster (the bling ring with his name on, the American posters on his wall, the 'Taxi Driver' mirror scene...), but it's clear it's all a facade when he fails to harm the skinhead in Paris
      • Saïd, although also rude and impolite like the two others, is seen as the childlike joker of the trio. He speaks about women in a derogatory way, but acts as the mediator between aggressive Vinz and moral Hubert. We see the movie through his eyes, with them opening at the start, and violently shutting as the final scene.
      • Notre-Dame represents
    • Key Scenes & Messages
      • 50:56 toilet scene: Hubert is in a lit cubicle, whereas Vinz is in a darker one that isn't lit up portrays him as the moral figure who wants to do the right thing, whereas Vinz is in the darker one which represents the theme of hate and revenge
      • 20:34 TV reporter scene: the way in which the boys look up to the reporter and the cameraman show the hierarchy in society, and how the suburbans are looked down upon with intimidation tactics to show power
      • last seen sees the irony of Hubert - speaking out so aggressively against gun violence all throughout the film only to be the one to shoot the cop, rather than Vinz. This highlights the vicious circle of the banlieue that nobody can escape; a cruel reality
      • the time going from 6:00am to 1 minute past shows how little time it takes for a mistake to turn everything on its heels and create anarchy
    • Social Context
      • unemployment in Western Europe has been a problem since the 1970s, including the French estates where crime and drug dealing seems to be the only means of earning money.  The only example of support for education or training there is Hubert's gym which is now burnt.
      • the CRS: the riot police in body armour with shields who clash with the suburban youth. Their notoriety developed in the late 60s and are now faceless figures of power. This is seen in the beginning of the movie (first scene) as they're seen as emotionless robots.
        • Key Scenes & Messages
          • 50:56 toilet scene: Hubert is in a lit cubicle, whereas Vinz is in a darker one that isn't lit up portrays him as the moral figure who wants to do the right thing, whereas Vinz is in the darker one which represents the theme of hate and revenge
          • 20:34 TV reporter scene: the way in which the boys look up to the reporter and the cameraman show the hierarchy in society, and how the suburbans are looked down upon with intimidation tactics to show power
          • last seen sees the irony of Hubert - speaking out so aggressively against gun violence all throughout the film only to be the one to shoot the cop, rather than Vinz. This highlights the vicious circle of the banlieue that nobody can escape; a cruel reality
          • the time going from 6:00am to 1 minute past shows how little time it takes for a mistake to turn everything on its heels and create anarchy

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar French resources:

See all French resources »See all Media and culture resources »