2. La Haine
France 1995
director: Mathieu Kassovitz
producer: Christophe Rossignon
script: Mathieu Kassovitz
director of photography: Pierre Aïm
video documentary: Armelle Bayle
editors: Mathieu Kassovitz, Scott Stevenson
art director: Giuseppe Ponturo
sound/sound design: Vincent Tulli
running time: 90 mins
cast
Vincent Cassel Vinz
Hubert Kounde Hubert
Saïd Taghmaoui Saïd
Karim Belkhadra Samir
Edwarde Montoute Darty
François Levantal Astérix
Solo Santo
Marc Duret Inspector ‘Notre Dame’
Heloïse Rauth Sarah
Rywka Wajsbrot Vinz's Grandmother
Synopsis
A public housing estate outside Paris has been shaken by rioting for 24 hours because
of injuries suffered by Abdel, a youth from the estate, while in police custody.Vinz,
Hubert and Saïd, three local friends, have all been involved. Hubert, a boxer, discovers
his training area has been wrecked.Vinz tells the others that he has the pistol lost by a
police officer during the rioting and that he intends to avenge Abdel if he dies from his
injuries. The youths spend the day hanging out as the tension mounts.
Towards evening they go to Paris to visit a dealer known as Astérix, who owes Saïd
money. Vinz endangers the deal by provoking Astérix with the gun. Leaving hurriedly,
Hubert and Saïd are grabbed by the police, while Vinz gets away. Hubert and Saïd get
a brutal going-over at the police station. They are released and miss the last train
back to the estate, but meet Vinz again at the station. The trio walk around the city
and unsuccessfully attempt to steal a car. They sleep in a shopping mall and wake to a
news broadcast informing them that Abdel is dead. Hubert and Saïd restrain Vinz from
threatening a traffic warden. Angry with Vinz, the other two leave him but they are
attacked by National Front skinheads.Vinz arrives and threatens the skinheads with the
gun and they run off.
Vinz is nearly out of control, but when the trio arrive back at their estate he hands
Hubert the gun to get rid of it. A car draws up and a plainclothes police officer gets out.
Vinz and the cop tussle and the cop's gun goes off, shooting Vinz in the head. Hubert
advances on the cop, and they face each other with guns drawn. Saïd looks on in horror
as gunfire is heard.
2
