SSC Film Studies

La Haine analysis 

The scene opens with a low angle close up, encouraging the audience to empathise with the character. As the other two characters feel quite comfortable in the environment it is more beneficial for the audience to empathise with Hubert as he feels like the outsider who see's the reality of the projects. The diegetic sound of a helicopter implies that the area is constantly under surveillance. In Hubert's room we see many posters of US athletes, Muhammad Ali, Tommy Smith and John Carlos. Tommy Smith and John Carlos both gave the Black Panther salute at the 1968 Mexico city Olympics. Both stood up for black civil rights, thus represent an important political statement to Hubert. They are a symbol of hope for Hubert as they too are from African Descent. The diegetic music is an American signer Issac Haye's, again reinforcing that migrants in France adopt a surrogate culture.

We see Hubert preparing drugs to sell in order to pay bills and smoking the drugs for escapism and to convey his boredom now that he is jobless like the rest of them.
Hubert see's a vast mix of non-white people sitting in the park with nothing to do. He is the most aware of his position in society which is why he is perception of the projects is more negative than the others. Evidently Vinz and Saiid lack awareness as they are joining in with the rest of the boys. this shot in particular is contemplative and demonstrates Hubert's deeper understanding of his position in society. The wallpaper in Hubert's room is flowery suggesting that his other girl siblings share his room or had that room before he did. This reinforces the black African culture of having bigger families.

When the citizens of the projects are on the rooftop, the police enter their environment and force them off. The topic of conversation on the rooftop is a Us reference, again reinforcing that those who have been rejected by the french culture reject them in return. this unites the different migrants with a strong bond. The police aggravate with no real justification however, the power remains with the citizens as they feel comfortable in the projects. This scene highlights the contrast between how they feel in Paris and the projects. The citizens abuse the police as they enter their building and face prejudice remarks as a result.