Director: Mathieu Kassovitz – 96 Min – (1995)

About the film:

HATE is pure cinema. It's an analysis of violence in big cities, as well as a critical look at the deplorable conditions in which young people from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods must navigate their lives. Beyond academic rhetoric, it skillfully uses the tools of audiovisual language to achieve its purpose, making it a film worth watching.

With its unforgettable aesthetic, LA HATE is one of those films that takes risks in every aspect. This is evident in the cinematography, which, in stark black and white, compels the viewer to step outside their usual reality and delve into the unique universe of one of the most important works of late 20th-century French cinema. A similar approach is taken with the framing and composition, where close-ups heavily emphasized at the sides reveal crucial details of the action in the background. The editing, awarded Best Editing at the 1996 César Awards, organizes the story within the brevity of a single day. It boasts a steadily building pace throughout the film, culminating in an intense climax that resolves in the blink of an eye. The film, directed by an expert in working with actors, who also acted in films like AMÉLIE (2001), serves as a launching pad for the career of international star Vincent Cassel, whose presence and charisma lend the film a dramatic tone that makes it captivating from the very first minutes. For these reasons, LA HATE is a must-see for even the most discerning cinephiles.