Explore how the opening sequence of your chosen film introduces the key themes

Mathieu Kassovitz, the director of ‘La Haine’ presents the themes of the film through the opening sequence. He does this by using a montage of footage from riots in Paris over a 10 year period. Kassovitz cleverly edits the montage to make it look like it was the riot in which the film is set after. He also presents the police as being brutal and aggressive towards the protestors whom he presents as being peaceful until angered by the police. By using a variety of clips which feature police brutality he attempts to trick the audience into adopting his ideologies and opinion of the police.

The film starts with a clip from a riot in which a lone protestor shouts “You’re murderers! You can shoot. We only have stones” To a line of police in the distance who appear to be wearing riot gear and have weapons. This clip is especially poignant because it appears to be one protestor against an army of police. We are positioned to view the police as antagonists and the protestor as vulnerable and heroic because he is alone, voicing his opinion. The police look especially aggressive because they appear to be faceless, this gives them an ominous and deadly appearance.

After that clip, one of the main characters Hubert makes a speech in which he refers to throughout the film, especially the end when it because apart he is the only person out of the three who really understands the circumstances that they are in. He voices over a slow motion clip of a petrol bomb about to hit a globe. The shot is metaphorical and represents the destruction which is being caused by all the fighting and police brutality all over the world.