Having recently watched Vincent Cassel in 'Black Swan' and not so long ago in the brilliant 2 part 'Mesrine', I was reminded of the french masterpiece he stole back in 1995.
'La Haine' comes from a line said in the film "La haine attire la haine!" meaning hatred breeds hatred.
The film is set in a French suburb where violence is rife and the police seem to be the main providers of it. After Vinz (Vincent Cassel) procures a handgun during the previous nights riots, he threatens to retaliate against them for seriously beating and hospitalising his friend. As the viewer, we are invited to join Vinz and his two friends on a life changing 24 hours in their neighbourhood.
This film works because although the protagonists are violent, you sympathise with there plight and desperation to be heard. Don't be put off by thinking it is a standard french drama; this is closer in style to some of the grittier Noirs of the past like 'Dog Day Afternoon' or 'Mean Streets' with obvious similarities to some of the better films in the genre.
Beautifully shot in black and white emphasising the bleakness of their world, this is stand out french cinema.
The film is set in a French suburb where violence is rife and the police seem to be the main providers of it. After Vinz (Vincent Cassel) procures a handgun during the previous nights riots, he threatens to retaliate against them for seriously beating and hospitalising his friend. As the viewer, we are invited to join Vinz and his two friends on a life changing 24 hours in their neighbourhood.
This film works because although the protagonists are violent, you sympathise with there plight and desperation to be heard. Don't be put off by thinking it is a standard french drama; this is closer in style to some of the grittier Noirs of the past like 'Dog Day Afternoon' or 'Mean Streets' with obvious similarities to some of the better films in the genre.
Beautifully shot in black and white emphasising the bleakness of their world, this is stand out french cinema.
