The MoFo Top 100 Neo-noir Countdown

La Haine is a gritty film about a generation of people who were trapped in lives of poverty and abuse. The black and white cinematography lends itself well to the dreary outlook of the film, and it feels almost like a documentary at times. It features real footage of actual riots that took place in France during the late 80s and early 90s, and similar riots were still occurring while the film was being made. It's not all grim however, as there is some humour layered in among the violence, frustration, and discrimination.

The film follows its three main characters over the course of an entire day – almost 24 hours. The trio grapple with boredom as they don't really have much to do inside their cold environment, littered with trash and used needles. Whether they're causing mischief or just standing around, they frequently draw the attention of the police, whose presence often reignites a conflict that is always on the verge of escalating into another riot. The atmosphere in these scenes is incredibly tense, and rife with uncertainty over how the confrontations will ultimately play out.

Sound is used very effectively throughout the film, with a great mix of both diegetic and non-diegetic music. I also liked many of the stories told to or by the main characters in the film. Not all of them had a real purpose, while others were clearly meant to be significant. I also appreciated that the film doesn't provide a real resolution, because the issues its addresses are still real problems is many parts of the world, and the final scene's impact might've been softened otherwise. It's a powerful film that is sadly still as relevant today as it was when it was made.