A modern French classic (La Haine (HD DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	La Haine (HD DVD)
Date:	19/09/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performances and writing

Disadvantages: None

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room

La Haine (hate) is an extremely powerful film about how life is in the banlieues (slums) in France. The French cities are set out such that, instead of the richer areas all being out in the countryside, it is the poorer areas that sit on the outskirts, all facing in at each other such to only enhance the atmosphere of dread and depression that runs rampant throughout. This film examines the victims of that system, both as it means that they internalise the violence upon each other, and therefore find nothing but disrespect for the police.

The protagonist is Vinz (Vincent Cassel), an angry young man who emulates a lot of macho anti-heroes that he sees on TV, chiefly Robert DeNiro's performance as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. He claims to be prepared to murder a cop in order to win respect. On the other end of the spectrum is his friend Hubert (Hubert Koundé), a boxer and drug dealer who is also the most philosophical of the group - he hates the violence and sense of dread and turmoil around him, but is largely unable to stop it. Thirdly is Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui), who simply tries to keep things between the two on an even keel.

This is a harrowing look at a dark time in France's social history - at a time when violence was particularly rife in the banlieues, this was immensely powerful and resonant with an entire population of people who felt as though they had no way out of the abject poverty of the slums. It's also interesting as a study of male anxiety, how the men feel that they need to exaggerate their masculinity in order to feel validated.

An extremely engrossing film with a very real commentary on "yob culture" and the police also. Cassel shines as the protagonist, and the ending is not only overwhelmingly tense, but extremely well-done. A great film.

Summary: Stunning feature debut from Mathieu Kassovitz