Set during a tense 24-hour period in a impoverished, concrete banlieue on the outskirts of Paris, Mathieu Kassovitz’s raw, black-and-white crime drama follows three young men—Vinz (Vincent Cassel), a Jewish youth fueled by explosive rage; Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui), a fast-talking Arab; and Hubert (Hubert Koundé), a reflective Black boxer—in the immediate aftermath of a violent anti-police riot.
When Vinz finds a loaded .44 Magnum revolver lost by a police officer during the chaos, he vows to kill a cop if their friend, who was brutally beaten while in custody, dies from his injuries.
Kassovitz delivers a striking, electrifying portrait of systemic oppression, police brutality, and urban youth alienation that sent shockwaves through French society.
The film earned Kassovitz the Best Director award at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival before going on to sweep the César Awards — taking home Best Film, Best Producer, and Best Editing — as well as winning Best Film at the inaugural Lumières Awards.
From the iconic floating camera work set to DJ Cut Killer’s balcony hip-hop set to the unforgettable ticking-clock tension leading to its final, shocking confrontation, this seminal masterpiece remains one of the most powerful works of modern European cinema.
Crime, Drama
France (French, English subtitles) 98 Min
