Power, Poverty and conflict

Both La Haine and City of God do attempt to comment on, challenge and discuss the issues of power, poverty and conflict. Although La Haine is much more effective, mailny due to the 'world cinema' approach it takes. Whereas City of God reflects key issues within a restricted frame due to the cinematic take it has. The stylistic choices used relating to genre and narrative restrict it in a way which limits the realism as opposed to the stylistic choices used by Kassovitz to reinforce realism within the narrative. 

The opening sequence to La Haine was constructed by Kassovitz specifically to prepare us for the themes of the film, as he called it himself an 'anti police film.' The sequence is a montage of clips condensed to subconsciously imply the police as the antagonists by the order of the clips. We have initial shots of the police arming for conflict, then we see seemingly innocent protestors dancing in the street. Then we are shown a clip of the police striking first, and the rioting a direct retaliation to the actions. It clearly shows the police as the aggressors in the conflict, and this is one of the main themes put forward by Kassovitz. 

The choice of music 'burnin and lootin' only reinforces this through the artist and lyrics. Bob Marley was open about his opposition to oppression and poverty and fought for equality among people. The line 'I woke up in a curfew' reflects how the citizens of the projects feel. Trapped, detained and against their will. The line 'uniforms of brutality' refers directly to the police and the use of the law as power to repress the ethnic minorities in an attempt to stop them from aligning against their one common enemy, the French society. The lyrics then move onto saying 'that's why we gunna be burnin and lootin tonight,' reinforcing the way Kassovitz constructed the opening, in showing that the reason they are rioting, is a response to the police killings. And this is exactly why Kassovitz made the film, he was tired of young men such as Makome M'Bowole being shot by police, at point blank range for no reason other than dominance. Kassovitz also used real footage from the riots in 1983-93 to further reinforce realism within his construction and the issue of race being a long problem within society. The use of black and white in the film destroys the construction of the representation of Paris in films such as 'Amelie.' The 'city of love' and its vibrant colours are reduced to a par with the projects. This shows that the conflict and divide of black and white is not restricted to the projects, but a problem within all aspects of the French society. This representation challenges the dominant ideological view presented by mainstream films and present Paris as dark, unsafe and sinister. 

In the first scene we see Sayid standing opposed to the police. Kassovitz chose Sayid because of his lack of understanding within the society he is in, and he becomes the interpreter. He is the most naive and this helps the audience see in this world. He was also chosen because it is a fact that the French police have killed more Arabic men than other ethnicities. The first shot of the police is a POV from Sayid, and he views them as intimidating and oppressors within this society. They are an external force, coming in and occupying their space and creating aggro. This is also shown in the rooftop scene where the citizens are fine until the police come to their space, and stir it up.