How does the structure of La Haine convey some of the key messages and values of the film?

The structure of La Haine is set into two parts, the Projects and the City. These two parts helps convey the key messages and values of the film.

In the projects is presented as the comfort zone of the trio, it is the place where they feel like they belong and this is presented in how the camera moves in a few key scenes. For example as the trio walk to the roof the camera is free flowing and the overall scene contains long meandering shots with very few edits, this not only shows that they are comfortable and at ease but also gives the impression that it is documentary like. This is done as documentaries are meant to depict reality and by having long meandering shots it helps simulate this form of filmmaking. As they are walking a group of policemen walk by, the atmosphere becomes quiet and tense as they walk past. The environment around them makes them appear enclosed and trapped like animals, also the policemen’s faces cannot be seen which dehumanises them and positions them as an antagonistic and united force. This reinforces the institution entering their land and trying to occupy it. Another scene in which a DJ is playing music is also important, as the songs he is remixing is Edith Pief and Beastie Boys. This is important as it shows that while they live in France they have abandoned their culture and have instead adopted a surrogate culture. As this goes on the camera starts to fly off into the distance, staring down at Vinz and Said from up high. This makes them look small and insignificant and this shows their overall place in French society. The overall structure of the Projects fills each frame, which creates a sense of entrapment of claustrophobia; the lack of landmarks or any evidence of culture as well as the condition of the buildings presents the environment as being abandoned both physically and culturally. Later on during a scene with the trio on a train Hubert sees a sign that reads ‘the world is yours’, he knows that this isn’t intended for him and is instead for the people in the city. This is visually shows as the sign is outside in the city while the Trio is inside the train, physically separating the two. The train shows that there is a large geographical distance between the Projects and Paris city centre, this distance helps to maintain the segregation between the two and narratively splits the two into half.

In the city the Trio are seen in city centre, in this shot the camera goes from focussing on the background and the trio but never on them both at the same time. This visually separates the two and with the movement of the camera, makes the city look like it is repelling the trio and is trying to keep them away. In this scene Vinz spits on the ground, this shows a sign of disrespect of the environment he is in and openly shows he despises it. The style of cinematography also changes while in the city, as it changes from free flowing to a more rigid, fixed and restricted style. This reflects the positions of the trio and shows how they fell when in Paris. Narratively the city also segregates the trio by making them go through several instances of discrimination, going from class based in the art gallery, to police racism in the torture scene and culturally when they encounter the skin heads. The city is mostly shown at night and shows It as a dark and dangerous environment.