La Haine - Cinematography - Flashcards in A Level and IB Film Studies

What is the meaning of Cinematography?

Cinematography is the art or science of motion picture photography. It is the technique of film photography, including both the shooting and development of the film.

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Why does La Haine have a black and white filter throughout the entire movie?

Even though the film was shot in colour, it was then printed for projection as black and white because Kassovitz decided that this fitted the story better. It suggests the downbeat nature of the estates, and it also frames Paris as a unfamiliar gaze.

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What are the two lens used in La Haine?

Wide lens which is used throughout the time the characters are in the estate and Telephoto lens when the characters are in Paris.

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Why does La Haine use two different types of Lens?

It is used as a form of narrative device. An attempt was made to film all the scenes on the estate with a "short wide lens" and the scenes in Paris with a longer lens (Telephoto).

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What effect did the Telephoto Lens create?

The lens emphasized on the closeness between the characters and the environment of Paris. This suggests how the characters felt inferior in Paris and making them lose sense of control.

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What effect did the Wide Angle Lens create?

This lens emphasized the distance between the characters and the environment and because of the large amount of space between them, it suggests how the characters have more freedom in the estate because they are seen as being more superior.

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Disadvantages of the Wide Angle Lens

When objects are too close to the camera they often turn distorted, appearing to expand and fill the screens - Faces are most noticeable (e.g.) when Said enters Vinz's room)

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Average Shot Length (ASL) of La Haine

By my current count it is 352 shots. For a total length of 87 minutes (excluding montage) the ASL is 15 seconds and with the montage its 13.75.

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Who is the character who has the most screen time?

Hubert. His close-up shots occupy 71.2% of the total sequence, and his longest facial shot is 25.9 seconds.

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Why is there a lot of rapid cutting within La Haine?

It is often used when there is action within the scene for example the exchange between the three boys and the journalists is 38 seconds in nine takes therefore showing how chaotic their lives are - losing their control throughout the movie.

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Is there a lot of distortion within La Haine?

The distortion effect is also evident in the "Subjective shot from the security camera at Astérix's apartment. This is a function of security camera which show as much as possible of the scene before them.

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Is it noticeable the change between the two lens?

Yes. When the characters are at the bridge there is a vertigo shot that keeps the characters the same size but the background zooms in therefore showing the change from wide angle to telephoto.

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Convey why the film uses a transition between the two lens.

It is used as a statement to suggest how out of their comfort zone the characters are. The director creates this mood to show the difference between the "worlds" even though both places are in France.

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Suggest why the director intended to use the Wide Angle Lens (WAL).

To suggest comfort, space and freedom. A good example of this would be the tracking shot in the rooftop scene it shows how the characters are comfortable and in control.

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Suggest why the director intended to use the Telephoto Lens.

To create the complete opposite of the WAL. An example of this would be in the toilet argument there is a sense of claustrophobia as the characters are restricted (Hubert and Vinz) - this builds up tension to the climax of the film.

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La Haine - Cinematography

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