Urban Stories: Brief Student Response

"The stylistic choices made by filmmakers define not just the look but also the meaning of a film". How far far is this true of the films you have studied for this topic?

I personally agree with the quote and believe it's very true in the films I have studied for this topic. In La Haine the chosen stylistic techniques give each situation a great deal of contextual meaning. For example in the rooftop scene, above Hubbert's burn out gym, we see Said ascend through a very small gap in the roof to get to the rooftop. This could be to represent how difficult it is to escape to freedom, as the chances are very small. Through a 360° camera shot of the entire rooftop we are able to see that all the youths have achieved a certain degree of freedom, as they are free and have the power to do what they like in this environment. Although they do have power in this situation they are still trapped by the Urban mise-en-scene of their environment shown due to the relatively small space they occupy through the 360° panning shot. Also through the stylistic choice of diegetic sound we can hear the sound of American hip-hop being played on a 'ghetto-blaster', a clear aural and visual representation of the the influence of American culture upon these Urban Parisian youths. They are also dressed in the American street clothing of hip-hop artists and break dancers; baseball caps, hoodies, tracksuit tops and baggy jeans. Everyone is freely smoking, drinking, eating hotdogs and discussing American movies and guns. As Vinz and Hubbert discuss Vinz's desire to break the law during the riots and be placed in jail (a martyr to their cause) conflict erupts with the entrance of the Mayor and police  in the street below. As Vinz looks over the edge of the rooftop the Mayor and the Police are filmed from a high angle and the youths shout abuse from their dominant position above to exert their power at this particular point. This is a clear stylistic representation of the social situation in French culture during the mid 90's Paris between the youths and the government.

Also:
Very Good Notes on Section A: Urban Stories