SSC Film Studies

Rooftop scene analysis

This scene starts with the camera tracking the trio on top of a roof. The main purposes of this scene are to show the police instigating violence. It also shows how Vinz is shaped by his environment, by him and Hubert having a conversation about how Vinz thinks being put in jail will earn him more respect.

            There’s a few American cultural references are also included in this scene, as there is a part where a few men are talking about Lethal Weapon and Desert Eagle. This shows that they’re adopting a surrogate culture as they’re more interested in American culture and talk about it more than there own. This may be because of the French culture completely rejecting them, as they’re not even considered ‘French’, although they are citizens who live in France.

            This scene clearly indicates that the police view the immigrant community with suspicion as they go up on to the roof to cause conflict. The police do not have control or power over the situation however, as the power lies with the citizens, in particular Nadine. Multiple generations are seen on this rooftops as well different ethnicities, indicating that that the police are only viewing them with suspicion because of that they’re not ‘French’.

            The police officer is also wearing an American Notre Dame jacket, which is ironic because the French Notre Dame is in Paris city centre, yet the Police officer, who looks like he’s from an Algerian decent, is wearing the American version. The reason for this is to show that even those who have assimilated have adopted a surrogate culture as they still do not feel accepted or that they belong in French culture.

            In this scene, the citizens abuse the major and from the rooftop and face prejudice as a result. This could be foreshadowing the scene later on in the film where the trio insult a group of skinheads off a rooftop in Paris. The two scenes are contrasted however, as the scene in the projects the rooftop seems to be open and bright, also the camera flows freely. In Paris however, the camera is restricted and only frames the men standing next to each other very closely, indicating that they’re trapped within this city/French society.