La Haine - News Crew scene

How significant is the 'News Crew' scene to our understanding of the messages and values of La Haine?


The scene opens with the trio sat in the playground, not even talking. Kassovitz employs a jump cut here to signify a long period of monotonous time passing, before Said speaks up. This passing of time is a representation of just how little people in 'the projects' have to do during the day, and the use of a jump cut is particularly effective in portraying this.
Said, Hubert and Vinz then go on to have a conversation about Said's apparently mythical conquest, and it is barely noticeable that a car drives past behind them. The car then reverses loudly, and the audience are positioned like the characters; trapped in a safari-like enclosure as cars stop to gawp at the trio. The news crew, comprised of a reporter and a camera man, don't even get out of the car, they stand and near hang out of the window, as if it is dangerous to get too close to the approaching Vinz, Hubert and Said. The reporter opens with "Were you involved in the riots? Did you break anything?" Her second question completely bypasses the first, as she makes a quick assumption that they were in the riots, just by looking at them.
Said replies 'Do we look like thugs?', clearly taken aback and insulted by her assumption, and is framed through a high angle shot, portraying him as inferior to the news crew, who are always shown through low angel shots.