Boy....Paris ain't all it's cracked up to be! Not if this film shows anything of the truth which I strongly suspect it does. Filmed in black and white documentary style director Mathieu Kassovitz captures the seething tensions of the rioting we have experienced several times around Paris on the news in recent years.
Three characters, the young and excitable Sayid, the hot-headed Jew Vinz and the level-headed but cynical black boxer Hubert, are followed during 24 hours of riots in Paris. A young man Abdel has been beaten so badly whilst in police custody that his life hangs by a thread.
Feelings of pure hatred now exist between the poor inhabitants of the Parisian projects and the tough and racist police. Following the previous nights riots an officer has lost his handgun. Vinz finds it and now feels empowered - he boasts that should Abdel die he will in turn shoot a policeman.
What follows is 24 hours in the lives of the three who have very little to lose.
Hubert tries to keep things in check using his superior intellect and muscle - he realises that fear leads to anger, anger leads to hatred, hatred leads to suffering...sorry, I've gone all Yoda on your asses. Ultimately the gang are bonded by their misfortune in being involved in the whole scenario. None of them asked for it and all try to take any opportunity to lighten the burden of their lives. They smoke dope, gatecrash parties, steal cars..all to relieve their boredom. What can they lose?
The final scene provides a great and shocking end to what is a hard hitting and fast paced film.
Even if you weren't interested in the violent plot I'd wager that lovers of cinematography would enjoy what is a fantastic looking movie. Each frame cries out to be framed and hung on a wall.
Highly recommended. 8/10.
Review by Mark Woods, LordBeanpod@GMail.com, 2008.
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Above photo reproduced thanks to Olivier Laban-Mattei/AFP/Getty and The Times Online,UK.
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