All's well thus far
In October, Mathieu Kassovitz's seminal film "La Haine" celebrates its 30th anniversary. Released in the 1990s, this French drama was a pioneer, tackling themes of police violence and the migrant-influenced suburbs that were rarely explored in mainstream cinema at the time.
The story unfolds over a single day, following the lives of three young men – Vinz, Hubert, and Said – as they navigate the tumultuous Parisian suburbs. One of the most iconic elements of the film is the Smith & Wesson Model 629, a gun lost by a police officer during riots the night before.
Vinz, one of the characters, finds the gun and, driven by the severe beating of his friend Abdel in police custody, swears to avenge him by killing a policeman. However, the gun remains unused, its potential for violence hanging heavy in the air, as the story adheres to the rule set by Anton Chekhov: if a gun is introduced in a story, it must be fired later.
Throughout the years, "La Haine" has not faded and remains intoxicating, sharp, and urgent. Its portrayal of the Parisian suburbs resonates with audiences even today, highlighting the unchanged issues that the film addresses.
Unfortunately, the real-world events have mirrored some of the film's darker themes. In 1993, the film was inspired by the death of 17-year-old Makomé M'Bowolé during a police interrogation. More recently, in 2023, a police officer in Nanterre killed 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk with a close-range shot. Less than a week after the announcement of "La Haine" being staged as a musical, a police officer in Oldenburg shot 21-year-old Lorenz A. in the back with three shots.
Director Mathieu Kassovitz, who wrote the film in 1993 and announced in 2023 that the film will be staged as a musical, follows a rule set by Anton Chekhov: when a story mentions a gun, it must be fired later. Yet, the question remains: when will the gun in "La Haine" be fired, and what impact will it have on the story and its characters?
As "La Haine" turns 30, its relevance and importance are as potent as ever, serving as a stark reminder of the issues that still need to be addressed in society.
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