La Haine: Propp's characters, narrative, themes and the vicious cycle

La Haine has narrative theme and characters which makes the film realistic. There are no Propp characters in this film to make the message more realistic and relevant. The director is trying to portray the social class division in society, therefore the Propp's characters if used here, would distort the film's message. Using fairy tale / Propp characters would distract from the message.

The film does however, use stock characters to some extent. It is important to have at least a small amount of stock characters for the audience to connect / relate to the characters.

• The 'bad boy' - Vinz - Taxi Driver scene. Key scene of Vinz talking into the mirror
• The helper/vigilante - Hubert - the reformed hero 
• The 'sidekick' - Said 

The film revolves around one day ; a clock ; a vicious cycle

Is this Classic Hollywood Narrative?
No. The film goes deeper into an analysis of characters. They have clear physiological motivations that separates them.
-Fraternity: trying to unite and help each other out.

Said/the vicious cycle:
Everything in this film portray Said to be weak. Said is the point of view for this film. He is the observer/ the audience's way in. 'So far so good' He has not fallen into Vinz and Hubert's situation yet. The film is about Vinz's journey, however it is viewed/seen through Said's point of view.  When he says this the world is shown; which again portrays the idea of the vicious circle. He is the last person standing alive. He then says 'so far so good' again at the end of this film. Again, the vicious cycle. 
When Said closes his eyes, the screen goes blank, this is pure evidence that it is in Said's point of view. Said is trapped in the middle, symbolising the vicious cycle once again, he is in between Vinz and the policeman. 

Themes:
Fraternity 
Entrapment
Violence; police/social control
Racism; the colour of the skin / class 


Satif mascare: the French invaded Algeria. The Satif masacre; beheading civillians 
Binary opposition: the French vs the Algerian 
A mixed view
Hypocrisy of assimilation; liberty, equality and fraternity. 


Key events in history/the film: 
-2 people killed inspired the director to make the film
-riots at the beginning was real footage