Product Details

• Actors: Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui, Abdel Ahmed Ghili, Solo
• Directors: Mathieu Kassovitz
• Writers: Mathieu Kassovitz
• Producers: Adeline Lecallier, Alain Rocca, Christophe Rossignon, Gilles Sacuto
• Format: Black & White, Color, HiFi Sound, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram Video
• VHS Release Date: February 11, 1997
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304331177
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,477 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This angry, antiauthoritarian French film--originally titled La Haine--concerns three young guys (a Jew, an Arab, a black) who decide to take on the police after a friend is brutally beaten. There isn't much going on in this black-and-white drama beyond its violence (which can be pretty hard to watch, such as an interrogation scene that incorporates torture) and gritty observations of wayward youths hanging out on the fringes of Paris. Certainly, there isn't much in the way of insight, and director Mathieu Kassovitz seems to have absorbed more of the excesses of America's independent film scene, especially Spike Lee at his most indulgent, than its blessings. But if it's edge and rawness you want, this has it--with subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypnotizing from beginning to end., June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hate [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I loved this movie the first time I saw it and have seen it at least a dozen times since. It is a powerful story told as seen through the eyes and lives of three friends who are living in Paris during the riots. The direction of this movie is delicious and so is the character development. A beautiful job is done in introducing each of the three main characters and in giving a bit of insight in to each of their personal lives. One is a tough guy with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, another a good guy who has no choice but to sell hash to support his family, and the third a kid who doesn't seem to care about much other than getting laid and trying to impress his friends. What really caught me about this movie was how realistic I found it. It was funny and hard and real and disturbing and fabulous. I highly recommemend this film to anyone who enjoys quality and substance. It has an AWESOME soundtrack too!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars you will not regret buying this., March 21, 2007

By 

phaedon "phaedon" (los angeles, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Haine (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

i have waited forever to buy this movie states-side. the only copy i've ever owned was on vhs and i lost it a long time ago. its been so long since the movie first came out; i remember that it was available as a zone 2 dvd in a european magazine or newspaper (it is common in some countries for them to distribute dvds this way).

anyway. im curious to see what criterion adds to this movie. this movie is a definitive "hip-hop" classic. and not many people know about it here. truly a gem.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad it's being released on Z1 format, February 15, 2007

By 

David J. Zemens "witty anonymous quotation" (ROC, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: La Haine (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

I spent $40 a few years ago to buy the Zone 2 version, which I didn't know was unplayable in my DVD player. I will gladly, but somewhat grudgingly, spend another $30 to get a copy of this movie that I can watch without limitations. Truly an eye-opening movie; France's "Boyz in tha Hood," only better in pretty much every way.