2. Learning Objectives
• Discuss the French Media and Political views of Immigrant and Race
• Complete analysis of Key Scenes and discuss how we can incorporate
out knowledge of French culture in to our analysis

3. • Cultural differences are an important aspect of our study of La Haine
• Differences between French culture and the culture of immigrant
communities have always been a source of tension in France
• In November 2005, as cars burned in France during the riots, Helene
Carrere D’Encausse, historian of the French Academy stated the cause
was polygamy.
“Much of these African’s are polygamous. In an
apartment there are three or four women and 25
children. They are crammed so much that there aren’t
any more apartments - this is why they run the street”
She went on to say:
“Look at the French football team – there are nine
blacks out of eleven.
Soon there will be eleven of them. When I see certain
teams, that makes me sad”

4. Media “Black-out”
There have been many more examples of racism in the media.
Pascal Sevran, TV host for French channel ‘France 2’ was asked about an
excerpt from his book Le Privilège des Jonquilles(2006) which read
“The c**k of the Blacks is responsible for the famine in Africa”
He justified this comment with:
“Its the truth! – Africa bursts of all the children who
are born to it without parents have the means of
nourishing them... It would be necessary to sterilise
half the planet”
France 2 did not penalise or fire Sevran, but African
nation Niger decided to sue him.

5. Political “Black-out”
• It is not only the media that has been accused of racism
and stigmatisation of the immigrant communities.
• As we have seen, the French state has a history of racism
and anti-immigrant sentiment
• These sentiments can be seen in many political posters
and campaigning materials (see handout)
• Djamila Sonzogni, a Green party MP, said the image was
evidence of the UMP's desperate attempts to win over
National Front voters.
"It seems that you unless you are blond and
blue-eyed in France, you will be permanently
suspected of something"

6. Who is Responsible?
France‟s cold shoulder approach to its black and Arab population has
led many young people from the suburbs (Les Banlieues) to turn to
activism and exert their civil rights”
• Do you think this is true?
• How much responsibility can be placed upon the French
government for the on-going riots?
• How much responsibility can be placed upon the immigrant
communities.
• Divide you page in two with the headings ‘State’ & ‘Citizen’
• Note down the issues, actions and cultural differences that you
think each group are responsible for

7. Key Scenes
• In your exam you will be expected to
identify and analyse specific scenes
from the film to back up and support
your points
• You must do this through analysis of
the micro and macro elements
• The following scenes have been chosen
as they comment on the social issues of
the film
• Analyse the sequences and prepare to
feedback to the class

8. Key Scenes
• Key Scene 1
• The TV News crew attempts to interview the trio about the riots

9. “Wildlife” documentary
• The scene begins with a slow tracking long shot framing the trio in
a way that reflects their relationships
• Sayid is the buffer between Vinz & Hubert and clearly respects
both men
• However, Vinz & Hubert see him as a the joker of the group and
show him the least respect
• What is significant about this?
• The trio are sitting in a space that resembles a bear pit or zoo
enclosure – notice how the TV crew first drive past then return
• The trio are then shot from a low angle.
• What affect does this have?
• The time we see the boys from the TV crew’s POV,
a high angle CCTV style shot is used.
• What effect does this have?

10. Key Scenes
• Key Scene 2
• Hubert in his bedroom

11. 1968 Olympics
• Tommie Smith & John Carlos give the Black
Panther salute at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
Smith said "If I win, I am American, not a
black American. But if I did something bad,
then they would say I am a Negro. We are
black and we are proud of being black. Black
America will understand what we did
tonight."
Why does Hubert have this poster?
How does this piece of mise-en-scene
contribute to our understanding of him?

12. Hubert
• Hubert is shot from a low level shot and positioned in the foreground,
positioning the audience low down and close to him. We are encouraged to
empathise with him
• In the background are several posters and icons of American culture as well as
African art
• He is also listening to African American singer Barry White
• The diegetic music helps reinforce the reality of the film

13. Hubert
• We then cut to a rare POV shot showing us Les Banlieues through
the eyes of Hubert
• What is significant about this scene?
• What does the framing of Hubert at his window tell us about him?
• What does it indicate and Vinz/Sayid and their environment?
• What point is the director trying to make with this shot?

14. Hubert’s POV
• Using a POV shot here gives the audience a unique
insight in to the mind of the three boys
• We follow Hubert as he takes in his environment from
his bedroom window
• For the first time Vinz and Sayid are seen from
a far; they blend in to the crowd to inform us
that they represent many of the young
immigrant men in Les Baneliues
• This shot also tells us that Hubert is aware that his
environment is mostly made up of Immigrants
• The shot is contemplative and demonstrate
Hubert’s deeper understanding of his
environment and position in French society

15. Sounds of da police
• Key Scene
The DJ using his decks to blast out Anti-Police messages

16. Sounds of da police
• This scene serves several purposes
• Firstly, it reminds us of how much American culture
has been incorporated in to the lives of the Banlieue
youth
• Hip Hop is extremely popular in France but it’s origins
are in 1970’s New York
• The DJ mixes „Sounds of the Police‟ with Edith
Piaf ’s ‘Non, Je ne regrette rien‟ (No, I regret
Nothing)
• The music has many connotations –
– What do you think the song ‘means’?

17. Sounds of da police
• A birds eye view of the entire estate is given showing
the audience everything that the characters have to live
with
• This shot was filmed by a remote control helicopter
adding a shaky-cam effect which, according to
Kassovitz was an accident, but contributed to the sense
of realism
• The camera move also reflects Hubert’s and other
residents desire to ‘fly away’ or rise above their
environment and escape to a better life
• At the end of the shot the camera begins to tilt
upwards – a possible realisation that the dream is
unattainable?

18. Key Scenes
• Key Scene 3
• The Police and Council authorities attempt to force young people
from the rooftop of one of the tower blocks

20. Rooftop
• This scene shows us that although Sayid appears to be
fatherless, he does have a male role model in his life
• American cultural icons are a topic of conversation - once
again reinforcing the need for a surrogate culture that they are
denied by their own country
• Vinz’s quest for respect
• Hate of the Police by the immigrant community
• Suspicion of immigrant communities by the police Djamila Sonzogni
and state Green party MP
"It seems that you unless you are blond and
blue-eyed in France, you will be permanently
suspected of something"

21. Essay Practice
• You now have a detailed set of notes.
• Use the remaining time to write at least two paragraphs about each
scene
• You must include the following:
• Analysis of the Micro elements
• Links to social context
• Analysis of the characters

22. Summary
• The second and third generation immigrants must
deal with the loss of their parents cultural origins as
well as accept the rules of a foster country that is
not totally in harmony with their demands
• Studying the history of France’s relationship with
its immigrant population has given us a new
understanding of the characters and their positions
within French society

23. • Scene 1 – 19:42 – 21:11
• Scene 2 -
• Scene 3 – 14:18 -