How “La Haine” chronicled the birth of streetwear Carhartt, Fila and the story of a man falling from a fifty-storey building

Everyone who was a teenager in the 1990s shares the vivid memory of the first seconds of La Haine. «It's the story of a man falling from a fifty-story building. As he falls, he keeps repeating to reassure himself: 'So far so good, so far so good, so far so good» says the voiceover by Hubert in the cult film by Mathieu Kassovitz that defined the imagination of an entire generation by naming the narrative of the suburbs as we know it today. The Parisian suburbs that grew up dreaming of America, the narrative of police violence, and the conflicting influences of second-generation youth: almost twenty years later, La Haine continues to describe the suburbs with a relevance and vivacity that are disturbing. Awarded at Cannes in 1995, the feature film is revived today in Italian cinemas, remastered in 4K, thanks to a collaboration between Minerva Pictures and Rarovideo Channel, with support from Cat People. In France, the film itself is undergoing a transformation, adapted by Mathieu Kassovitz into a musical. This new version, titled "La Haine - So Far Nothing Has Changed", offers a fresh look at the suburbs, highlighting, however, that they remain caught in an endless cycle of violence and neglect. The news of the death of Naël M., a 17-year-old youth killed by the police during a check in Nanterre, appeared in the newspapers shortly after the announcement of the adaptation. "La Haine" continues to be a beacon, illuminating often ignored realities and now, more than ever, prompting a deep reflection on our society. Yet another aspect of the film remains extremely current despite the passage of time: fashion.

The characters of the film, with their tracksuits, caps, and sneakers, embody a style that has solidified as a pillar of modern streetwear. The aesthetic, initially adopted out of necessity and comfort in a challenging urban context, has become an expression of resilience and identity. The film's fashion style, far more than a mere trend, has become a means of expression for young generations navigating between tradition and modernity in urban contexts around the world. Twenty years after its theatrical release, La Haine returns to cinemas to narrate social inequalities to new generations, but it also reminds us that fashion draws from the street just as counter-culture arises from exclusion.