Slavery in France (1780’s)

The dependence on colonial slavery (Court Cases)

French Colonial & Postcolonial history in Africa

WWI and WW II: The Senegalese Shooters (Les Tirailleurs Sénégalais)

Liberation of European cities by Africans

Film: Les Indigenes

1930’s France had a higher percentage of foreigners than the United States.

Immigrants first flowed in from neighboring countries (Spain, Italy, Poland, Belgium)

(1914-1918) Aftermath of WWI, shortage of workforce

Recruitment of foreign labor , mostly Polish (1930)

Increase in African immigration (1963)

Recruitment of African labor to come and work in factories in the aftermath of WWII.

Establishment of harsh living conditions to discourage permanent immigration.

The laborers end up staying and bring their families over.

Shift from “les bidonsvilles” to “Les banlieues”.

Social exclusion

The Extreme Right National Front Jean Marie LePen National Preference

rationale. “Second and third

generation immigrants”

Inassimilability based on culture and ethnicity

“pure Frenchness” Liberty equality

fraternity (contradiction)

LePen receiving 16% of the vote in 2002 1st round.

“Vote for the crook not the fascist”.

Sarcozy tough on immigration/ insecurity.

Police Brutality Children electrocuted Mistrust of police NWA: “Fuck the police” http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsDtfmfsyi8&feature=related

NTM: “Nique la Police” http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL0goigDM_0&feature=related

NTM: “Qu'Est-Ce Qu'On Attend”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKrSVIDNLNY&feature=related

Diverse ethnic cast: Black (Hubert), Arab (Said), Jew (Vinz).

Multi ethnic community in the banlieue

“La mixité sociale”, Discouraging monoethnic communities in housing projects.

La Haine-multi ethnic Do the right thing

(Spike Lee)-Monoethnic French riots of July 1995

French Minister of the Interior and French Prime minister watched the film three times

Social commentary: Jusqu’ici tout vas bien.

The Tale of Gonvalsky (Bathroom scene)

Social determinism & Free choice

Social mobility Tragic end

Film inspired from Young Zairian (Makomé Bowole) who was shot dead while in police custody (the gun was said to have gone off accidentally)

Thomas Ngijol commentary.

Immigrants in the French media.

Television and Sound Bites. Subverted by Film

REPORTER: Hello, I'm from the TV, can we have a word with you? Do you know about the policeman's gun lost in the projects? Do you know who found it? And what would you do with it?

SAID: Do we look like troublemakers to you?

REPORTER: I didn't mean that.. HUBERT [sincere]: Why don't you get out

of the car. This isn't a safari park. REPORTER: Well 'cos ... because we're

late and we've lots of work to get through. [The car speeds away]

Use of non professional actors Documentary approach Filmed on sight not in a studio Newsreel footage at the beginning

(establishing authenticity) Use of Bob Marley song (anti-

establishment, establishing authority through Bob Marley)

Use of foreground and background to give a sense of space and authenticity.

Shot in black and white, giving the film a sense of gravity

24 hour chronology, placing a sense of urgency

How does a boy wake up and end up being shot by the police at the end of the day?

Allusion to Robert de Niro in Taxi Driver http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=okQJPUTQMqA Fascination with violence

Social determinism in both films (Nockout Ned & Vinz).

City of God circular end (children taking over Li'L Zé’s empire).

Masculinity in La Haine (social empowerment through the male body).

Masculinity and Gender relations in La Haine

Masculinity and Gender relations in City of God

Li'L Zé: rape scene Immortal Technique: “Dance with the Devil”:http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRgYd5Mxs0

Masculinity and Rape