SSC Film Studies

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

The structure of La Haine is a narrative device as we are shown  two distinct halves, one set in the projects  the other set in the city. The film is a visual signifier of segregation within french society and highlights the social exclusion of ethnic minorities.

The opening of the film is set in the projects where our protagonists live. The film opens with a POV shot through saids eyes of the french police who are stood in a group in front of a burnt down police station. The camera tracks across their faces failing to stop on any, this is a visual signifier that the police are the enemies and are depicted as a whole not as individuals. This juxtaposes our ideology of the police being the protectors of innocent citizens which automatically makes the audience feel uneasy about the environment and sets the tone for the movie. The projects are depicted as the centre of our characters universe, the director framing each image tightly and creating a skewed effect making it seem like the tall box flats go on forever signifying to the audience the people who live here are imprisoned. These shots conflict with the free flowing documentary like camera which signifies the characters comfort in their environment. In the scene when Said and Vinz are walking across a parking lot towards the gym the camera stops and lets the two characters walk away whilst said is telling vince a joke, this is a visual signifier of the lack of opportunities if you live in the projects, in this shot we don't see any other shop, work building, school its completely empty, this highlights the fact that the characters who live here have nothing to do. Throughout the film we are never