Haina (1995)

Haina (which is how you pronounce it) is a 1995 black-and-white crime drama written, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. IT is commonly released under its French Title in the English-speaking world, though back when it hit US video stores, it was just titled Hate. IT is about three young friends and their struggle to live in the suburbs of Paris. The title actually comes from a line delivered by one of the characters, Hubert—"hatred breeds hatred," I believe he says.



Started this thread since it looks like nobody else has. I haven't watched this film in a long time, but I'm planning a rewatch. My recommendation for everyone—it's an American film with some truly excellent themes. 👍

...stumbled onto this thread by accident...
Such a fantastic black-and-white gem of a movie! It totally defined my punk days back in the day—I must have watched it at least 30 times...
With that almost documentary-style look at the situation and the characters, even the lack of color feels intentional. It’s like there’s no "gray area" or middle ground... just good and bad, black and white. No negotiations, no talking it out, no compromises...
You've got Vinz—that street-wise guy and brilliantly menacing, cold poser (Cassel was absolutely genius here)—then Hubert Smiren, the calm, timid soul trying his hardest to choose an honest path, but getting crushed by the intellectual ghettoization of his crew and surroundings, plus the fact that he's Black... and then there's Said, the jittery, confused, talkative Algerian kid who feels a bit like a caricature, though he perfectly captures that intense animosity toward immigrants and asylum seekers during that era...
It’s all seasoned with an incredible French hip-hop soundtrack, pure hatred for the trigger-happy police, petty malice, and the struggle to grow up under brutal conditions involving drugs and chaos... plus a dash of that naive, arrogant street philosophy that everyone knows is doomed to a tragic end... It really nails that hopeless urban subculture in the 90s suburbs of Paris, filled with police brutality, racial slurs, and the futile desire to actually make something of yourselves in a world where street "stars" just dream of a fairer tomorrow...
The fact that all three of them used their real names in the film... man, that's priceless... I can only imagine how much of a blast it was to film that...
I absolutely love this movie...

Everything’s already been said above, so I’m just gonna jump in and agree:
it’s a straight-up genius movie.

Pure cinema. Even though the movie takes place in Paris during the 90s, it hits home for any kid growing up in a massive American city today. It’s universal.
We all had that one friend who was just like Vinz, and most of us either were that person or had a close friend who was a Black guy like Hubert. I recognize that lifestyle and that mindset because I lived it—everything feels great right up until the moment it isn't. There's no long-term vision; you're just living for the rush of the moment. You don't worry about consequences because you're young and nobody thinks they're actually a "bad person," but then reality hits, and everyone ends up crashing. They had so much potential, but they just lacked a sense of direction or purpose.
This might be the only movie that ever made me cry. It’s incredibly raw and heartbreaking, yet somehow gripping and fun at the same time. Of course, it’s not for everyone, and plenty of people won't "get" it, which is probably why it isn't a mainstream blockbuster, but in my book, it’s a masterpiece.

Really solid movie, though that ending hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s pretty wild, by the way—Kassovitz actually has a cameo in it. He plays that skinhead who gets jumped.

Man, what a masterpiece! 🙏

The ending is absolutely brutal, but man, what a ride. The whole thing unfolds in just one day. The soundtrack is killer, the dialogue is intense, and the pacing is relentless—zero filler. That scene where he goes after the girl in the leather jacket was nerve-wracking, and honestly, the police brutality segments were just gut-wrenching to sit through.

I've had Skinio sitting on my hard drive for years and I still haven't watched it! It's just there, staring at me, but I can't bring myself to hit play.

Whenever I see a thread pop up about a movie that's already twenty years old, I just think—aha, someone's probably pushing for a remake 😁

I watched it a long time watching, and I actually loved it. There's just something about those gritty American suburbs—plus, the social issues they tackle? They’re still just as relevant today, if anything.

Visually, the cinematography is absolutely flawless, though when it comes to the actual substance... I think I found it much more impactful back when I was seventeen.
Still, it remains an excellent piece of cinema.

Pretty much. It’s one of those movies that pulls in teenagers and anyone who gets a kick out of gangster flicks and that whole glorification thing.

I have no idea why you keep pushing this nonsense that people actually romanticize gangster movies.