La Haine is a cult movie directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, who is also known for his role as the mysterious love interest in Amélie. It tells the story, that seems very actual still, of social discrimination and frustration in a French ghetto in the 1990's. It's visually stunning, truly poignant and features a very young Vincent Cassel. And it just came out in the beautiful Criterion Collection.
We studied it this week in inspiration for our next feature film, currently in development...
Virginie
I forgot to mention: the black and white aesthetics are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love la Haine, I once (had to see) saw it at school in french (but we had learned french for only two years then, so it was quite hard to understand anything). I think the story is indeed still quite actual, it could have been also turned two years ago and nobody would wonder. In Munich they used to play an adaption for stage in a theatre, I quite loved it although it was a bit strange to hear this "youth french" or argot translated in german. I even wrote a paper about it for university and for this "rewatched" the film two years ago, and I was quite happy that I understood more - as I studied french and spent a year in France ;-)
ReplyDeleteIs there any comparable situation with banlieues in Montréal?
xxx Anita
I think right now in Montréal the climate is very tense between the youth and the police, but more for political reasons than because of racial discrimination. There are manifestations daily and although they are not riot, a wast part of the population takes part in them.
DeleteI would have loved to see that stage adaptation in german! Sounds really cool :)
Virginie xo
I love this film, I have it on DVD, it truly is amazing <3
ReplyDeleteFine, you convinced me, I'll have to look it up! I do love a dose of Vincent Cassel. Interestingly enough I just watched A Dangerous Method and his appearance was the only thing worthwhile about it. I expected a film about great minds of Jung and Freud to be far more insightful.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same about A Dangerous Method, I love the subject and was disappointed with the treatment...
DeleteLa Haine is worth it I promise!
Virginie
This movie is amazing! I saw it for the first time in college when I was studying French and showed it to my husband not that long ago. The premise of this single gun being lost is really interesting to me, especially since I live in a country where guns are all over the place.
ReplyDeleteJusqu'ici tout va bien... this is one of my favourite films ever!
ReplyDelete