By Alexander Hughes 13B

One of the highlights of the French A-Level course is La Haine, Kassovitz’s seminal exploration of life in the Parisian banlieues, for the essay paper. Made in 1995, in response to the death of Makomé M’Bowolé, a 17 year old boy shot whilst in police custody, the film uses nonprofessional actors and improvisation, and has a fresh, contemporary feel which resonates with many aspects of the current socio-political climate in France and Britain. Poignant, funny, and always thought provoking, it is a masterpiece of twentieth century French cinema which addresses race relations and social inequality through a compelling 24 hour period which tells the story of a day in the life of three engaging young inhabitants of a deprived Paris suburb. Naturally, like any great work of cinema, the full effect of a film such as La Haine can only be experienced on the big screen. The morning workshop explored (in French, naturally) the lasting influence of the New Wave were highly stimulating, and drew on French New Wave greats such as Truffaut and Godard, exploring techniques through clips that were new to us. These were exciting discoveries and I took advantage of the following INSET day to watch Cléo de 5 à 7 by Agnès Varda. After a short lunch break on the banks of the Thames, we enjoyed a screening of La Haine – a the highlight of the day. The film’s impact on the big screen the cinema left us breathless –  in Godard’s words, à bout de souffle.