La HaineLe Blanc et le Noir.

Lesson Objectives:In this lesson we will discuss the

use of black and white in the making of La Haine.

Black and white in the age of colour. Why?

• Making a black and white film in 1995 is a statement.

• Since the 1970’s colour in film became ubiquitous.

• Some film makers continued to make black and white films

• E.g. Manhattan (Woody Allen 1979)

• She’s Gotta Have It (Spike Lee 1986)• Raging Bull ( Martin Scorsese 1980)

Reasons?

• In Raging Bull, Martin Scorsese said that black and white makes the blood less disturbing and that technically it fades less than colour. (see also Kill Bill sequences, Quentin Tarantino)

• It gives a period feel.• It appears unrealistic, yet like music

videos – cool• It allows for more overt play on

characters’ skin colours. (Hubert on the poster)

Reasons?

• Reference to film noir (Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation.)

• Vinz in the cinema – smoke patterns• The Boxing Match• Uses classic film noir photography (Chiaroscuro

(Italian for light-dark) is a term in art for a contrast between light and dark)

and backlighting• Vinz in the BMW looking moodily at the

street.• Constructs a mood of urban edginess and

expectancy.

Reasons?

• To distinguish La Haine from other beur and banlieu films. (Beur is a verlan (French slang) term for a descendant of immigrants of North African origin living in France. Can be used as a pejorative term)

• Other films in colour.

• The obvious highlight of black, white and grey subject matter in La Haine.

Unrealistic?

• Unrealistic in that black and white film it is not of now!

• However, Kassovitz uses other devices to bring it into the present.

• Newsreel footage• Tv news archive

• Still retains a gritty, cool feel, both real and unreal

• The film doesn’t really age as it would in colour.

• E.g. Saïd’s tracksuit is gold!

Research

• Bavure• Banlieu• Beur• Film noir• Social unrest/ grèves post 1995.

what were people protesting about?

See also…

• DVD extras – scenes in colour

• Behind the scenes 2 – Filming in the cité.