Olivia Prenderville

How far do the films you have studied for this topic challenge the audience, generating debate about the worlds they represent?

In the opening montage of La Haine, we are shown real footage from the Paris riots. The black and white images have low-key lighting and show citizens fighting and being abused by the police. The police are heavily armed. This challenges common misconceptions about ‘the city of love’, as the audience are used to viewing the city as vibrant and ‘romantic’. The real footage from the riots ground the film in reality and creates a realistic framework that the film takes place within. The real footage cuts to a staged news report, which in turn transitions to Said in the film. This technique prepares the audience for a real account of Paris life.

Another scene that challenges expectations of the city is the art gallery scene. The boys are clear outsiders in the art gallery as they are positioned apart from the upper-class citizens of Paris. This is reinforced by the boy’s homes. It is on the outskirts of the city centre and is a run down area. This brings an awareness of the ‘real Paris’ to the audience. The distance between the projects and Paris city centre is emphasized through the train scene.