La Haine (The Hate)

Director:Mathieu Kassovitz
Writer:Mathieu Kassovitz
Release Date:17th November 1995 (UK) 31st May 1995 (France)
Genre:Crime, Drama.

Cinematography

• Begins with tilt shot lookiong up at sky. Clever editing which show time passing by (clouds moving very fast)
• Steady cam moving quite slowly, contradicts the sense of realism that Kassovitz is trying to create but also highlights the significance of the scene. Makes the audience remember it.
• The fluidity of the camera movement creates a sense of realism. The scene where the camera is following the group is particularly good for showing this. The shot goes on for a very long time with no cuts. This makes the spectator feel as if they are the fourth member of the group.
• Shallow/Narrow depth of field.Background slightly blurred. shows that we should be concentrating on the foreground, perhaps it has some importance?
• Shot from behind the character adds to the sense of realism as that is what we would be looking at if we were in the film. Relates to Guss Van Sant's "Elephant". it is all to create a sense of realism as if we were actually there within the film.
• The shot from behind also gives a sense of mystery as we cannot see the faces. Although this does make us concentrate on the conversation as we don't have alot else to look at. I think this is another way of stressing the importance of a certain factor in the film, in this case their conversation.
• The colour in this film is quite specific to the setting and genre. it is a gritty and at times violent film, so the black and white colour is good for showing the rawness of the setting.