"How far you fall doesn't matter, it's how you land…"
La Haine - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
C'est l'histoire d'un mec/d'une société qui tombe et au fur et à mesure de sa chute, il/elle se répète sans cesse pour se rassurer : 'Jusqu'ici tout va bien, jusqu'ici tout va bien, jusqu'ici tout va bien.' L'important, c'est pas la chute, c'est l'atterrissage.
— Hubert
Context:
This line is delivered by Hubert in voiceover at the beginning of the film, and a variation of it is repeated at the very end. It frames the entire narrative and encapsulates the film's core message about societal decay.
Meaning:
Translation: "It's the story of a guy/a society who falls and on his/its way down, he/it keeps telling himself/itself to be reassured: 'So far, so good, so far, so good, so far, so good.' The important thing isn't the fall, it's the landing." This quote is the central metaphor of the film, comparing the precarious state of the 'banlieues' and French society to a person in freefall, unaware or in denial of the inevitable, disastrous impact.
La haine attire la haine.
— Hubert
Context:
Hubert says this to Vinz during one of their arguments about the gun and the idea of revenge. It's a direct challenge to Vinz's belief that more violence is the answer to their problems.
Meaning:
Translation: "Hatred breeds hatred." This simple but profound statement is the film's thesis. It articulates Hubert's philosophy and the director's warning about the self-perpetuating cycle of violence that stems from social injustice and police brutality.
Avec un truc comme ça, t'es le boss dans la cité.
— Saïd
Context:
Saïd says this to Vinz when he first sees the stolen revolver, highlighting the immediate association between the gun and power within their environment.
Meaning:
Translation: "With a thing like that, you're the boss in the projects." This quote reflects the allure of power that the gun represents to the disenfranchised youths. In a world where they feel powerless, the weapon is seen as a way to gain status and respect.
On n'est pas à Thoiry ici.
— Hubert
Context:
The trio is on a rooftop in their housing project when they notice journalists filming them from a nearby building. Hubert shouts this line, expressing his frustration at their voyeuristic gaze.
Meaning:
Translation: "We're not in Thoiry here." Thoiry is a French safari park where visitors observe animals from a safe distance. Hubert's comment is a sharp rebuke to journalists who are filming them from afar as if they were animals in a zoo. It powerfully expresses his anger at being objectified and dehumanized by the media and mainstream society.