La Haine; structure

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

La Haine is split into two distinct halves, the projects and the city centre. The structure of the films is more than a narrative device, as we can use the two halves to learn about our characters, and also the social and political implications of the film. The director uses binary oppositions, to create juxtaposition which is fundamental in driving the narrative. An example of binary opposition in La Haine is the minority citizens of the projects and authority. 

The projects sequences are used to challenge the audiences expectations of France and French society. The projects emphasises the real and the imagined divides that exist within french society and highlights the social exclusion of the trio. The projects is established as the centre of Hubert, Vinz and Said's universe. The structures of the projects fill each frame, creating a sense of entrapment, however at other times the wide open spaces reflect the characters sense of belonging and control in their environment.

During the opening sequence in the projects, Said writes on the back of the police van. This reflects how the youths living in the projects have nothing better to do than get into trouble, and highlights the lack of opportunity in their environment. We learn that the school had been burned, the gym had been destroyed, and the whole area seems barren and bleak. The fact that the film is shot in black and white supports this, and sucks the life out of the atmosphere. 

When Said and Vinz are walking to meet Hubert, the camera does not follow them all the way. When the camera stops, the audience can see them shrinking away and blending into their environment, making them look small in a large, empty place. A lot of the cinematography in the projects consists of long, meandering shots with very few edits. this creates a documentary effect, showing that the film intends to show realism. These shots make the characters look at ease, as they are comfortable in their environment, as this is where they belong within France. 

As the camera follows the trio, they encounter the police in a tight, enclosed space. This suggests that around the police, they feel trapped and seem to have nowhere to run to. In an attempt to hide, they drop their heads and go silent, trying to act 'normal', and as they turn the corner they go back to their previous behaviour, but the camera follows behind them showing that they are always being watched no matter how hard they try to hide from the police. When the police are walking forward, the camera is behind them so we can only see the reaction of our characters, this dehumanises the police and positions them as antagonists. 

During the shot when Hubert looks out of his bedroom window, we see from his POV what it is like for youths in the projects. The children are sat around with people around the same age as our trio, as there is nowhere for them to go, and they cannot go to school. It is also shown that there is a drug epidemic within the projects, caused by poverty, as there are needles on the ground where there are children sat nearby. This reinforces how the minorities experience prejudice for invalid reasons, the French who live in the city think that the drug issues come from their ethnic background, however it is due to the segregation, which causes poverty and unemployment within the projects, which can cause things such as mental illness. This creates a realistic view of suburb life, and how it can affect everyone within it. 

When the DJ plays music, he mixes classic French music which represents French society, with Non-French, hip-hop music. This shows the cultural divide and the rejection of the French culture by the minorities. The song itself is very satirical as it threatens French identity and it also mentions the police who have a very negative role in the citizens' lives. Whilst the music is playing, the camera flies through the projects, however it never seems steady whilst travelling, and as the shot pauses it makes the projects look never ending, as the view fades into nothing but grey, whereas the expectation of France would be to see the Eiffel Tower in the distance, and see a reflection of the 'city of light'. 

The train journey sequence splits the two sections in half narratively, instead of showing the audience that Paris is only a train journey away, the scene demonstrates the sheer distance (both geographically and metaphorically) the characters are positioned from Paris. During this sequence, Hubert is separated from the others, and he is in focus. When he sees the sign saying 'the world is yours', he has a realisation that this does not apply to them, but to the Parisians, the 'French'. The sound and the close-up of Hubert creates a feeling of claustrophobia and entrapment as they ender the city of Paris. Hubert desires escape, yet he does not feel that he belongs in the city or the suburbs, and he feels he will never be accepted. 

When entering Paris, the use of the vertigo shot makes it seem like the city is repelling the characters, as they get closer, the city pushes them back, and neither the city or the characters are ever in focus at the same time, secluding them.