HATE AND STRESS IN THE BANLIEUES

I STAND ALONE and MAN BITES DOG seem to be both very much of their time as well as timeless.  They, to differing levels, are interested in questions of urban alienation and nationalism.  I STAND ALONE is asking, "What is French?," "What is it to be French?," and "What does it matter?"  Whereas MAN BITES DOG is constantly commenting on culture from the color of brick to loneliness in high rise apartments.  Made in between MAN BITES DOG and I STAND ALONE, Mathieu Kassovitz's LA HAINE (HATE, 1995) tackles similar issues of violence, ethnic and class tensions in Paris and its banlieues.  Inspired by Martin Scorcese and Spike Lee, Kassovitz creates a masterpiece of urban frenzy that remains tense as well as providing interesting social commentary on contemporary France in the 1990s.

"The film is not about its ending. It is not about the landing, but about the fall. HATE is, I suppose, a Generation X film,whatever that means, but more mature and insightful than the American Gen X movies. In America, we cling to the notion that we have choice, and so if our Gen X heroes are alienated from society, it is their choice--it's their lifestyle. In France, Kassovitz says, it is society that has made the choice."
-Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Violence in the banlieues continues to be a source of concern in contemporary France.  The music video for Justice's STRESS courted controversy when it was boycotted by several television stations.  The argument against the video was that it perpetuated racist stereotypes, while others have argued that it is a critique of the French media's portrayal of the banlieues.  The video was directed by Romain Gravas (son of Costa-Gravas), who has specialized in controversial music videos and directed his first feature SHEITAN in 2006.