Action & Adventure > French Action & Adventure

La Haine - hatred breeds hatred

Advantages: Superb acting, engaging storyline
Disadvantages: Kassovitz is miscast as a skinhead

WHAT IS IT: La Haine is a French film - shot in black and white and released in 1995 - directed and written by Mathieu Kassovitz. It is in French with English subtitles and is around 90 minutes long. The film centres around 3 young men living on an impoverished housing estate in France. Vinz (Vincent Cassel), a French Jew, is full of rage at the injustices he is subjected to and the constant state of tension between the police and local youths in ...
...but of Moroccan/Algerian/Tunisian/Libyan/Mauritanian descent) who shares Vinz's dislike of the police but tries to keep the peace between everyone. Hubert is an Afro-French boxer and drug dealer who is philosophical about the situation he sees around him even when his gym gets burnt down during the riots. He suspects Vinz may have been involved and finds his aggressive attitude irritating. When a friend of the young men is put into a coma as a result ...

jesperado77 29.07.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of La Haine (DVD)

The spirit of early Scorsese and Spike Lee films.

Advantages: Performances, soundtrack and cinematography are all ace.
Disadvantages: Rather downbeat.

A film that contains the spirit of early Scorsese and Spike Lee films. This is an enjoyable social document on the life of three ethnically different young friends as they pass a day on a Parisian housing scheme. The film effortlessly portrays the boredom and the need for cheap thrills in the lives of these disaffected youths. Vincent Cassel is excellent as the would be leader, trying his best to be as hard as De Niro yet can't hide his innocent ...
...and brings an odd elegance to the decay of the city around our protagonists. Mathieu Kassovitz direction is outstanding and deservedly walked away with the Cannes prize for that year. The script is also very funny and contains some moving and philosophical sections - best of all is the toilet scene with the old fella, one of my favourite scenes of all time! ...

Syklone 16.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of La Haine (Special Edition) (DVD)

District 13 is an exciting, and fast-paced action film.

Advantages: Just a brilliant film
Disadvantages: Subtitles

...story line about a French district that has been shut off from the rest of the world and crime reigns. The free-running is awesome in the film and the actors are perfectly cast. There are 2 options before you start watching, either you can watch with subtitles or dubbed. I found that the dubbed version was very unnerving as it was dubbed with voices that did not fit the characters. I prefer the subtitled version, although I do need to be awake to ...

sarahhighfield 25.10.2009 · Read full review

Review of District 13 (DVD)

Slick and sick

Advantages: Exciting, tense and looks fantastic
Disadvantages: As nasty as it wants to be

Dobermann shows Vincent Cassell further demonstrating the extent of his talents, in this fantastically well shot piece of action. While the film is unlike the constant excitement of, say, Hard Boiled, it does champion a violence more sinister, and more severe. The beautiful colours and filming techniques marry up with this violence, but rather than glorify it, make it seem all the more grotesque. Dobermann blurs the distinctions between good and ...
...police force similarly detestable. Despite pre-dating The Matrix by a year or two, it is every bit as exciting, but more recklessly packaged, and far more prepared to break with cinematic convention, and extend the boundaries of what the viewer still finds acceptable. This film is ideal for the action lover who doesn't mind subtitles, (or speaks fluent French). It is not one for the nervous or squeamish, or any one who doesn't like bangs. ...

Neill 10.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dobermann (Subtitled) (Wide Screen) (DVD)

The Wages of Fear

Advantages: Great experiece
Disadvantages: none

I first saw this film as a film student in Film and TV Institute of India in 1971. I was thrilled like most of the students. I did not have the oppurtunity to see this film after 1974(after graduating from FTII as Cinematographer). Since there was no video or internet at that time, film could be seen only in theatres. Moreover this film was not available anywhere except Film Archive of India. I lost the hope of seeing and showing the film to others ...
...film on DVD after a gap of 33 years. I was not only thrilled but went nostalgic. My family members were eager to see this which I used to praise for decades. But I was shocked to find that neither my wife nor my son saw the complete film. I am bewildered. Is it because life style has changed or pace of life. I am trying to find the answer. But I firmly assert that no one should miss this film, bit patience is required in begining of film. I consider ...

Wadhwa 09.10.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Wages Of Fear (Subtitled) (DVD)