- Release year: 1995
- Director: Mathieu Kassovitz.
- Producer: Christophe Rossignon.
- Screenplay by: Mathieu Kassovitz.
- Cinematography by: Pierre Aïm.
- Music by: Assassin.
Synopsis: a day in the lives of three teenagers living in a society ruled by a corrupt police force more interested in oppression than in doing their real job.
Shotgun Commentary: an essay on the dark side of society that remains as relevant as ever.
Review
La Haine remains one of the best social commentaries ever made through cinema. With a relatable story and a unique visual take, this tragedy is as fascinating today as it was in 1995. And, sadly, just as relevant.
BFI brings back this tale of sorrows in their latest Blu-ray release in UHD, so you can enjoy it in the highest quality. Is this the first time you are hearing of this classic? Has it been in your Watchlist for so long you only remember Vincent Cassel pointing his hand at a mirror? Allow this critic to shine a light on why La Haine is a must-watch for young and old.
A stark opening
The story is simple enough: three teenagers go about their day. There is really nothing else to it. Except, of course, these teens are from Chanteloup-les-Vignes. For my American audiences, that is the equivalent of the Paris projects. Unsurprisingly, pretty much everyone living there is a minority. In our protagonists’ case, black, Arab, and Jewish, respectively.
Also, to the shock of no one, these areas are the ones targeted by the police. A force that, in this film, seems way more interested in beating up anyone who doesn’t look white and rich than in protecting people.
Add a few riots, some burnt properties, and this is the situation you are introduced to from the very beginning. There is a short tale narrated by a voiceover as the film begins. It not only serves as the films’ perfect declaration of intent, but also as a spot-on metaphor for the attitude of citizens in a decaying society have.
The story is essentially about a man who is falling from a building. After he passes each floor on his way down, he thinks “so far, so good”. You have probably heard “it’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the landing” millions of times. Well, this metaphor goes a step further. The landing might be what kills you, but as long as you are deluded enough to think everything is fine while you are falling, in a way, you are already dead.
So far, so good…
Similarly, there is a saying is Spain that goes, “when you see your neighbour’s beard being cut, put yours on water”. This is a wise saying that nobody really puts into practice. Sadly, humanity’s knack for self-centredness and greed blinds most to the risks of letting authoritarian rulers go after a minority. Take the US, for example. Even after you subtract all the racist, sexist, extremist people, you are left with a big majority of individuals who want a better life and don’t really care who pays for it as long as it doesn’t affect them directly.
Much like the blind-killing system in concentration camps, people deal better with causing harm if they can’t see their victims nor have to harm them directly. However, what happens when it turns out that you are actually part of that group labelled as “collateral damage”? What happens when, after all minorities are gone, you discover that the next group targeted includes you? What happens when it’s your beard, or when you reach the last floor, and it’s only you and the ground left?
See no evil…
Minorities are still huddled in neighbourhoods away from the view of the natives, the rich are still separated from the poor, and that is no mere coincidence. The protagonists are shocked at the politeness of the police during their brief visit to a posh neighbourhood. Are policemen trained differently depending on where they are bound to do their rounds? Or are the most violent and problematic individuals sent to the poorer neighbourhoods to rough up innocent people while rich people remain unaware of that reality?
Furthermore, how can we expect fair and wise ruling from politicians who have been brought up in a bubble? La Haine might be a feature from the 90s, but mere months ago you had Richie Sunak on TV laughing at the mere thought of socialising with “the working class”.
How is it possible that the population is generally OK with this reality? Well, it all goes back to “so far, so good”, which essentially means that, as long as they have something to lose, people won’t stand up to inequality, even when they don’t agree with it.
A well-placed mirror
La Haine taps into this surreal reality that we all live in. It cleverly plants all the necessary seeds for you to ask yourself the most pertinent questions on the matter. Depending on your particular situation, these might differ, but they will sure be worth asking.
Few films manage to move people, entertain, and encourage their audience to be critical as effectively as this narration does. The lack of chromatic distractions helps the full weight of the message hit you as hard as possible. A rough experience that is beautifully delivered by the three leads, Vincent Cassel as Vinz, Saïd Taghmaoui as Saïd and Hubert Koundé as Hubert.
All in all, La Haine is a masterpiece rightfully taught in film schools for its perennial pertinence and its magnificent craftsmanship. If you ever have the chance to watch this film, this critic highly suggests you do not let it go.
BFI’s release of La Haine can be pre-ordered now on their website. Details and links below!
Special features
- 4K restoration supervised by director of photography Pierre Aïm and presented on UHD in Dolby Vision
- (HDR10 compatible)
- Alternative score by award-winning electronic music collective Asian Dub Foundation. Recorded live at the
Royal Festival Hall in 2025 - Audio commentary by Mathieu Kassovitz (2004)
- Redefining Rebellion (2020, 5 mins): film critic and programmer Kaleem Aftab explores the spirit of
revolution in La Haine - Screen Epiphany: Riz Ahmed introduces La Haine (2020, 14 mins): the award-winning actor talks about his
connection to the film - Interview with Mathieu Kassovitz (2020, 35 mins): an interview with the actor, writer and director
- Three short films by Mathieu Kassovitz: Fierrot le pou (1990, 7 mins): a young man shoots hoops (or tries) in
a gym, in an effort to impress a young woman - Cauchemar blanc (1991, 10 mins): a group of white men carry out a racist attack in the banlieue
- Assassins (1992, 12 mins): Kassovitz’s short film that he later developed into the feature Assassin(s) in 1997
- 10 Years of La Haine (2005, 84 mins): feature-length documentary marking the 10th anniversary of Mathieu
Kassovitz’s award-winning film - Casting and rehearsals (1995, 19 mins)
- Anatomy of a Scene (1995, 7 mins): a look at the shooting of a particularly challenging scene
- Behind the scenes (1995, 6 mins): Kassovitz, his cast and crew prepare to embark on making La Haine
- Colour deleted and extended scenes (1995, 17 mins): including afterwords by Mathieu Kassovitz on selected
scenes - Trailers
- 80-page book featuring writing on the film by Ginette Vincendeau and Kaleem Aftab, an interview with
Mathieu Kassovitz, archival essays, writing on the short film and reviews
Product details
- RRP: £29.99 / Cat. no. BFIU0013 / 15
France / 1995 / black and white / 98 minutes / French language, with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.85:1
Disc 1: UHD100: 2160p, 24fps, 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, PCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/24-bit) Disc 2: BD50: 1080p,
24fps + 720p, 50fps (selected special features), Dolby Digital 2.0 audio (320kbps)
Where to buy
Advice to take from this movie:
- Don’t wait until it’s your turn to care about human rights violations.
- Black and white is a great format when it’s used with intent.
- Guns are rarely the answer to anybody’s problems.
What’s your take? Have you watched La Haine? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀