Nearly thirty years after the release of his cult film about the suburbs, Mathieu Kassovitz revisits “La Haine” in the form of a hip-hop musical. The show will be presented for the first time on October 10 at La Seine musicale, in the Paris region, before a tour in several major cities.
French director Mathieu Kassovitz returns to the forefront with a unique rereading of his emblematic film “La Haine”, released in 1995. This time, it is in the form of a hip-hop musical comedy that the trio Vinz , Saïd and Hubert come to life, in a show that mixes rap, dance and spectacular visual effects. “It’s the same subject but not the same way of telling it”specifies the director, who now wishes to “move” the public with a revisited story, punctuated by a soundtrack orchestrated by the composer Proof.
The setting of this musical is a nod to the original film: a working-class neighborhood, a burned car, graffiti on the walls… All these elements are digitally reconstructed in 3D and projected on a screen at the back of the stage. “We designed a technological system of character movement and scenery movement that synchronize and give you the impression that you are in the camera’s place”explains Kassovitz. The set includes a conveyor belt, allowing dancers and actors to move through the heart of this virtual setting.
The audience is thus immersed in the world of the Chanteloup-les-Vignes district, where the film was shot, and follows the eventful day of Vinz, Saïd and Hubert. Total immersion, supported by a soundtrack mixing rap, pop, electro and symphonic sounds.
A tribute to rap and musical diversity
The show’s soundtrack highlights rap, a musical genre closely linked to the history of “La Haine”. Several emblematic figures like Akhenaton (IAM) and Oxmo Puccino, but also emerging talents like Jyeuhair and Doria, participate. Added to this is the contribution of artists from varied backgrounds such as Angélique Kidjo, Matthieu Chedid and Clara Luciani. A daring mix of genres, which embodies the evolution of hip-hop culture since the film’s release.
The 12 tracks that make up this soundtrack will be available for streaming from October 4. These pieces, created by the artists themselves, are performed on stage by the actors and breakdancers, thus adding an additional dimension to each scene.
A show that is still relevant today
If “La Haine” denounced police violence and social tensions in the suburbs, Kassovitz believes that the subject remains “still relevant”. “So far, nothing has changed”warns the show’s subtitle. However, the director’s objective has evolved somewhat. In 1995, it was about alerting and delivering a “social and political message”. Today, the director wants to address more universal themes such as “lack of respect” and “the need for justice”. “These kids, there are some who have succeeded now, there are also many who have remained at the bottom and the societal problem is still the same”he emphasizes.
The actors playing Vinz, Saïd and Hubert were mostly not even born when the film was released. Yet the message continues to resonate. “I feel concerned because, near my house, there are 10 Saïd, 10 Vinz, 10 Hubert”testifies Samy Belkessa, interpreter of Saïd. Alexander Ferrario, who plays Vinz, emphasizes, for his part, that “La Haine” allows us to understand “where violence comes from, not to excuse it, but to have a possible dialogue”.
Mathieu Kassovitz La Haine
