It’s not often that an actor of Cillian Murphy’s caliber will lavish praise on another film, and there’s one 1995 classic he called out as a genuine masterpiece. However, when sitting down with Letterboxd to discuss four of his favorite movies, Murphy pointed out a French-language classic whose power and influence can be felt across his career.
Cillian Murphy Called La Haine A “Masterpiece” – Why The French Film Is Still Relevant Today
A boy poiting his fingers simulation a gun in La Haine (1995)
With a desire to gift his children his love of cinema, Murphy told Letterboxd that he has been revisiting classic releases with his family, and together they were struck by the power of the French cult film La Haine. From director Mathieu Kassovitz, this crime thriller combines fast-paced action and social commentary to create a film that remains relevant today.
Murphy praised La Haine as a “masterpiece” that “just hasn’t aged.” Taking its title from actor Hubert Koundé’s line, “La haine attire la haine!” (“hatred breeds hatred”), the film’s themes of social unrest and systemic inequality remain powerfully relevant, which is why Murphy believes it “still speaks to what’s happening in France today.”
La Haine chronicled a day and night in the lives of three friends in an impoverished Parisian neighborhood and directly tied into issues of social unrest, police brutality, crime, and revolt. As an uncompromising examination of the long-festering social and economic divisions in Paris, La Haine feels even more relevant now, given the political instabilities of contemporary times.
How La Haine Has Influenced Cillian Murphy’s Movies
Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer looks distressed in Oppenheimer
Cillian Murphy has long been drawn to complex roles that explore economic, political, and social struggles, often playing characters shaped by the harsh realities of modern life. From portraying a transgender woman in Neil Jordan’s Breakfast on Pluto to recently addressing the scandal of the Irish Magdalene laundries in Small Things Like These, Murphy’s characters often have serious political implications.
It’s no surprise that Murphy believes La Haine is a masterpiece when its enduring message and powerful social commentary encapsulate everything the actor tries to achieve with his own work. Even Murphy’s Oscar-winning turn as J. Robert Oppenheimer acted as a damning critique of nuclear warfare and the destructive impact of war.
Looking back on La Haine, 30 years later, it’s clear that this is exactly the type of film Murphy is drawn to, and it’s not hard to imagine him excelling in a role similar to Vincent Cassel’s Vinz. As an actor who takes his craft seriously and consistently delivers outstanding work, Cillian Murphy’s appreciation of La Haine makes perfect sense.
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