La Haine (The Criterion Collection) (1995)

i have waited forever to buy this movie states-side. the only copy i've ever owned was on vhs and i lost it a long time ago. its been so long since the movie first came out; i remember that it was available as a zone 2 dvd in a european magazine or newspaper (it is common in some countries for them to distribute dvds this way).

anyway. im curious to see what criterion adds to this movie. this movie is a definitive "hip-hop" classic. and not many people know about it here. truly a gem.

I spent $40 a few years ago to buy the Zone 2 version, which I didn't know was unplayable in my DVD player. I will gladly, but somewhat grudgingly, spend another $30 to get a copy of this movie that I can watch without limitations. Truly an eye-opening movie; France's "Boyz in tha Hood," only better in pretty much every way.

Buy La Haine (The Criterion Collection) (1995) Now

This is one of those movies that sticks in your head. I rented it on VHS years ago when it first came out. I heard about it through its attachment to Jodi Foster's production company Egg Pictures. They help it to get released in the States. From the opening voiceover hurtling towards the ground, to the brutal ending, it will move you. The performances are terrific, and the screenplay does a fabulous job of ratcheting up the tension as the movie progresses.

Whatever your feelings and knowledge about the issues surrounding immigration, this movie shows you how from the immigrants' perspective, the tensions of their new society can clash with those of their original ethnic society into a powderkeg waiting to blow. The three main characters are young and in over their heads. Their feelings of helplessness combine with the fortuitous discovery of a policeman's lost gun to lead them where their not sure they really want to go. It's an intersting and powerful dilemma to watch.

Highly recommended!

Read Best Reviews of La Haine (The Criterion Collection) (1995) Here

Hate is a strong film about lost youth where the apparent message strikes the audience in the forehead like a nail-pegged baseball bat. The story is set the day after nightly riots in a Parisian ghetto after the young Arabian man, Abdel, was brutally assaulted by the police. Vinz, Said, and Hubert are three friends of Abdel that are set adrift in anger toward the police as they try to find reason and justice within their social environment. The impulsive Vinz, performed by Vincent Cassel, acts tough as he knows that he has a gun that he found after a police officer had accidentally lost it in the riots. Said is the follower who glorifies the violence and strives to be respected as he has a twisted view of what respect is. Hubert dreams of getting out of the ghetto as he does not glorify the violence within the ghetto while his two friends do. The audience follows these three characters throughout a full day as they are sitting around, getting into trouble, and learning through their errors. Kassovitz creates an authentic and explosive atmosphere which becomes the grounds for an exhaustive examination of the socioeconomic milieu of young adults in a poor Parisian ghetto. In the end, Kassovitz succeeds in developing an excellent persuasive and disturbing cinematic experience.

Want La Haine (The Criterion Collection) (1995) Discount?

La Haine is a film that flew beneath my radar for some time. Released to critical acclaim in 1995, it won numerous awards, and earned both the support and criticism of members of the French Government at the time. It explores a day in the life of three hood kids growing up in a public housing project outside of Paris. The film effectively and at times disturbingly shows the tension between the police and Paris' minority communities. Although it is 12 years old, its exploration of police brutality and racial/class disparity is relevant and applicable to modern American society and probably more generally any society in which there is an unequal distribution of wealth.

La Haine is shot in gritty black and white, and is subtitled. Although it is a deep film, it is still an entertaining and absorbing crime/hood drama. It is raw in its depiction of kids growing up on the fringes of society. It is not pretentious or cliche like 'Crash', a film with a similar theme. This is both an artistic and entertaining film, which retains its power after multiple viewings. La Haine deserves to be watched.

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