What's in a Scene? - La Haine Character Analysis

Today I look at Matthieu Kassovitz's widely acclaimed film, La Haine ("Hate" in English). There were a multitude of scenes that I could have chosen from, but there are two minutes in this movie that stand out to me and do more to push the story forward. Let's take a look at it.
NOTE: There's a part of this video that comes off as a bit, well, stupid to people more understanding of the film's contextual elements. So I apologize for my stupidity in advance, I meant no ignorance when it came to my "analysis" of the policemen in the scene. I was simply looking at this 2-minute scene from a filmmaking perspective.
La Haine and all related materials are owned by Matthieu Kassovitz, Copyright © 1995

[@jfrazorofficial7355]

That’s a really interesting interpretation on the Ecouter statue. What’s freaking great about La Haine is its symbolism. Not only that statue, but also the mural of Rimbaud and Baudelaire overlooking the final scene of the movie, a Michelangelo fresco in the background of Hubert’s drug deal and the three of them basically destroying a Parisian art gallery. I think you’re correct in your interpretation of this scene, but looking at the film as a whole, it could be symbolic of the disconnect and distrust between the white, affluent upper class of France versus the poor, minority centric population of the banlieue. Rather than foreshadowing, could Vinz ignoring the Ecouter statue be a rejection of the part of French society that the three characters find monolithic, bureaucratic and prejudiced against minorities? Just spitballing here, but great analysis. Wish La Haine got a lot more love as a film.

[@elasnore1523]

this is genius, you deserve more recognition, this video is so well made and the things you’re saying are even better, i love this, thank you

[@M3gekje]

This is incredibly well made, props mate

[@igotnopancakemix]

I dont think Vinz is fantasizing about killing a cop, i think he is the only one of the 3 friends who truly analyzed his environment via his instincts, with the Bosnian war so close by and his friends starting to get murdered by cops, he was building himself up to the idea that one day he too could get into a situation where its his life vs a cop i.e. the ending scene. The parallels between Vinz eluding cops & never getting caught while Hubert & Saiid are borderline getting tortured while the cops are instructing to a new cop. The ending scene with the cop accidentally shooting Vinz in the face could have easily also happened with the cops torturing Hubert & Saiid & they could have easily covered it up. Does this make Hubert & Saiid submissive or intelligent? Now we get into the next topic: blame society & government leadership or blame the people involved in the riots making things worse causing further tension in the suburbs increasing hate / false pride? or real pride? (includes the trio). When the tv reporters come up to the trio and try to get an emotional response out of them by making them feel different/inferior with their classist questions. This creates an urge to stand up and fight for your family / environment, as the trio does to the reporters. I kind of I think the point of the movie was to further introduce watchers to the strong classicism that occurred in the suburbs of France through the lens of the 3 oppressed youth. Clearly shown with the hangout spots of the trio in their neighborhood vs when they are in Asterix apartment in Paris. What do you do when you have lost the faith of a town/village and you wage a civil war with them? Deaths on both sides unfortunately are the only possible outcome/solution, many cops getting killed by civilians and many civilians getting killed by cops until both sides decide its enough and slowly revert society to normality. I also believe Hubert symbolized the idea of someone trying to avoid a life of crime and making the best out of their environment by starting a gym only to have it burned down by the oppressed youth, it doesn't work out, sooner or later the hood will come find you. Hubert tried to take the righteous path and failed, he then took the life of crime by selling hash and could only make do with this path. Vinz took the path of the life of crime all the way up until Hubert tested him by forcing him to attempt to shoot the skinhead, only to give up the gun (his power), he then made his very first step into the righteous path which ultimately got him killed in a messed up way. If Vinz would have followed his life of crime path, he would have kept the gun on him and as soon as those cops pulled up on him and tried to grab him, he would have blasted them no doubt in my mind. Vinz would have also either died a rebel hero or gone to prison for the rest of his life. Instead a worse possible outcome, Vinz is left powerless, dies a foreshadowed martyr death at the hands of cops, Hubert avenges his friend only to also die to a final shot fired by the same officer that killed Vinz, all while Saiid is being traumatized and transformed into the next revolutionary leader of the slums fully ready to engage in a full out war against the cops who killed both his best friends and Abdel. Amazing Film. 10/10

[@ANGELFLORES-vh9gd]

Nice! I had a feeling that sculpture had something to do with it given the weight of it in the mise en scene.

[@night1247]

I think vince is just as much an antihero like travis bickle. pride, hate and resentment, and the need to unleash it through violence. only travis comes out as a hero, accidentally, while vince dies right after changing for the better.

[@iliveinsideyourhouse3943]

Amazing movie and analysis.

[@fredyscanlan]

Fuck me ive just realized why I love this films I used to be saïd, now I’m vinz and Hubert is who I want to be...

[@halon9940]

Best French movie

[@NardBlake]

Great video! I was wondering if I can use some of your analyses in an essay I'm writing for class? It's about the same scene.

[@rayo146-x8x]

Go ahead! Just remember to reference me in the bibliography!

[@NardBlake]

RayO1 thank you! And yes will do 👌

[@trel7612]

@@rayo146-x8x we know he didn’t lmaoo

[@ChrisKardiake]

Nice work, Btw the message here is on another level since "Vins" is a jew dude like Kassovitz and the dead guy is named Abdel Ichaha (Inch'Allah in arab mean if god want it) ^^

[@dimspacha]

well done, no need to say more. Indeed, God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we may listen more than we speak hahah peace

[@drf4270]

Yes, and the cow says mooh...and because it moohed it shall be written.

[@drf4270]

And behold, the cow moohed, as it was written

[@veli4kostoev]

That's great, man.

[@SosaEscro]

Roger Clark posted this on twitter! Good video! Imma sub :)

[@rayo146-x8x]

O_O Roger Clark...as in Red Dead Redemption?

[@SosaEscro]

RayO1 yes..the lead freaking voice actor literally says he loves the video! Keep it up!

[@rayo146-x8x]

@@SosaEscro Well, he deleted he tweet...so...big sad...

[@SosaEscro]

RayO1 :(

[@rayo146-x8x]

@@SosaEscro Do you happen to know why he deleted it?

[@takyc7883]

What a movie

[@josephgiri22]

Great work!

[@toothbrushedskips2829]

How you not mention the halo over Vinz's head when staring at the police

[@rayo146-x8x]

fun fact, that _was_ in my notes when I was making this video, but under peer review I deemed it wasn't as important to the analysis.

[@toothbrushedskips2829]

@@rayo146-x8x fair enough haha

[@juleslund1515]

Thank you. Sevdaliza brought me here...

[@rayo146-x8x]

The singer? Where did she mention this video?

[@juleslund1515]

@@rayo146-x8x Yes...just listening to Human and Caspian a couple times, my suggested videos set itself up for me to watch/listen to FKA Twig

[@Nvthaniel]

Great video

[@GetOffUrPhone]

Great analysis!

[@123rebelguy]

I dont know.where you guys get this idea... I m not sure if the directors hve the knowledge Of all these things 😂

[@thomasdupont7186]

Damne, a rosbif/anglo Saxon saying good things about something French ?! Oh my...

[@rayo146-x8x]

Rosbif? I'm bengali. Glad you enjoyed the video. La Haine is and always will be a classic

[@nicholasgood470]

cOOL - DISAGREE THOUGH

[@rayo146-x8x]

What do you disagree with?

[@jerkfacebg]

This is a butchering of the movie... not only do you totally miss the point of why this movie was made by missrepresenting the socio-political contexte of the paris banlieues. The hate the feel is one thats imposed by the structures that oppress them dayily forcing them into positions where crime and violencd are their only ways out. The end of the movie illustrates this point even further when the Hubert (the only character that is seen to be trying to have a positive influence in the neibourhood by opening the gym that is bruned during the riots) is pushed to killing the police when vins finally renounces his idea of vengence. This final illustrates the fact that their siruation is imposed on them and that no matter how hard they try they are cursed to fill a certain role, one of the marginalized working poor that are at the mercy of the violence of the state. This video grossly simplifies the nuances of the social landscape of france during that time and today still. It also doesn't do justice brilliant representation this movies gives of the balieues from the menoteny to the violence.

[@rayo146-x8x]

I'm not talking about the final scene, nor any of the valid issues you know the film addresses. I'm talking about a character analysis for Vinz and ONLY Vinz, not trying to delve deeper into the socio-political issues. My video looks at my chosen 2-minute scene solely from a filmmaking perspective. If you want to talk about the greater contextual meaning behind La Haine (I could tell you know your stuff), then you should make your own video essay about the film.