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La Haine

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article La Haine, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025
La Haine
Company typeFilm
IndustryFilm industry
Founded1995
FounderMathieu Kassovitz
ProductsFilm

La Haine (, meaning "Hatred"; released in the United States as Hate) is a 1995 French social thriller crafted, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. Featuring performances by Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, and Saïd Taghmaoui, the narrative centers on a single day and night in the existence of three companions from a disadvantaged immigrant district outside Paris. The film's title originates from a phrase spoken by Hubert: "" ("hatred generates hatred"). Kassovitz received the Best Director award at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The story begins with televised coverage of riots erupting in a Parisian suburb. After Abdel Ichaha, a local resident, suffers severe injuries while in police custody, tensions intensify, leading to a siege at a police station and the loss of an officer’s revolver. The plot tracks the experiences of Abdel’s three friends—Vinz, Hubert, and Saïd—over approximately twenty hours.

Vinz, an impulsive Jewish teenager, seeks vengeance for Abdel and harbors intense animosity toward law enforcement, modeling himself after Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. Hubert, an Afro-French boxer who also deals drugs on a small scale, aspires to leave the banlieue but faces obstacles after his gym is destroyed. Saïd, a North African Muslim, often plays the role of mediator between Vinz and Hubert’s disputes.

Their daily life is dominated by police scrutiny and escalating aggression. Following the police dispersal of a rooftop party, Vinz discloses that he has found the missing .44 Magnum revolver and intends to use it against an officer should Abdel die. Hubert disapproves of this plan, yet Vinz retains possession of the weapon. Attempts to visit Abdel in the hospital prove unsuccessful; Saïd is briefly detained but soon released due to his connections.

A growing divide emerges between Vinz and Hubert regarding their views on violence and law enforcement. Amid chaotic incidents—including an attempted retaliatory attack on police by Abdel’s brother and near shootings during confrontations—the trio escapes to central Paris. There they encounter both antagonistic and sympathetic residents, leading to perilous encounters.

They cross paths with a Polish gulag survivor who recounts an enigmatic tale symbolizing societal deterioration. Later, visiting Astérix—a cocaine addict indebted to Saïd—tensions rise when Vinz is compelled to play Russian roulette with an unloaded firearm. Sadistic plainclothes officers arrest Saïd and Hubert while Vinz manages to flee. In custody, the friends endure mistreatment and miss their train back home.

After unsuccessful efforts to steal a vehicle and being expelled from an art gallery, they retreat to a rooftop where they provoke passing skinheads with insults. Seeking refuge in a shopping mall, they learn of Abdel's death. Vinz disappears but is later discovered pointing an imaginary gun at an officer; Hubert and Saïd abandon him in frustration.

Subsequently attacked by skinheads, Hubert and Saïd are rescued when Vinz holds one at gunpoint. Despite pressure to shoot, Vinz hesitates and releases him.

Returning home in the early morning hours, Vinz hands over the revolver to Hubert. When Vinz confronts the officer he previously insulted, the officer draws his weapon on him. Hubert intervenes but the officer accidentally shoots Vinz. A tense standoff unfolds between Hubert and the officer with weapons drawn; as Saïd closes his eyes, the ending remains uncertain. Hubert’s voiceover compares society’s decline to a man falling from a building who reassures himself with "so far, so good."

Production

The inspiration for the film originated with Kassovitz following the 1993 killing of Makomé M'Bowolé, a young Zairian shot at close range while detained by police. This event, alongside the 1986 death of Malik Oussekine—who was fatally beaten by riot officers despite not engaging in protests—served as key influences for the screenplay, which Kassovitz began drafting on the very day M'Bowolé was killed. Additionally, Kassovitz incorporated elements from his personal history, including his involvement in riots; he also appears in several scenes and cast his father, Peter Kassovitz, in a supporting role.

Principal photography took place mainly in Chanteloup-les-Vignes, a suburb of Paris. To authentically depict life within the banlieues, both cast and crew resided there for three months prior to and during filming. Archival footage spanning from 1986 to 1995 was integrated to reflect ongoing social unrest. Given the film’s controversial subject matter, multiple local authorities refused permission to shoot on location, necessitating a temporary change of the script’s working title to Droit de Cité. Several performers were non-professional actors, with certain scenes drawn directly from actual incidents.

The soundtrack includes contributions from French hardcore rap group Assassin, notably their track "Nique la Police," which has become closely linked with the film. An interesting connection is that Mathias "Rockin' Squat" Crochon of Assassin is the sibling of Vincent Cassel, who portrays Vinz.

The film is dedicated to those who lost their lives during its production.

Reception

La Haine garnered extensive critical praise both within France and internationally. It premiered at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation and earned Kassovitz the Best Director award. Upon release, it opened at number one at the French box office with weekly earnings of 12.5 million Francs and retained this leading position for four weeks straight. The film attracted over two million viewers in France, ranking as the 14th highest-grossing movie domestically in 1995.

On Rotten Tomatoes, La Haine boasts a 96% approval rating based on 69 reviews, with an average score of 8 out of 10. Critics lauded its stark and honest depiction of socio-economic disparities in Paris during the 1990s. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "raw, vital and captivating," while Wendy Ide from The Times described it as "one of the most blisteringly effective pieces of urban cinema ever made."

In response to its impact, then-Prime Minister Alain Juppé organized a special screening for his cabinet members, acknowledging the film as "a beautiful work of cinematographic art" that sheds light on social issues despite its critical stance toward law enforcement.

In 2010, La Haine was placed at number 32 on Empire magazine’s list of "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema."

Accolades

Home media

La Haine first appeared on VHS in the United States and was later released on DVD through a special two-disc set by The Criterion Collection in 2007. In Europe, the film became available on both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats. Criterion brought out a Blu-ray re-release in May 2012, which included director Kassovitz's audio commentary, an introduction by actress Jodie Foster, a documentary examining the film's influence a decade after its release, behind-the-scenes footage, and deleted scenes accompanied by the director’s reflections.

In April 2024, Criterion expanded its high-definition offerings by issuing La Haine on 4K Blu-ray.

See also

External links

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