Explore how stylistic choices contribute to the representation of the urban experience in the films you have studied.

In the apartment scene of La Haine the mise en scene shows the flat to be visually very different to the other locations in the film. This is where we are induced to Benoît and his flat. The mise en scene of the furniture in the first wide shot shows everything to be more expensive with sofas, a glass table and painting. This is different to before when then they are in the project then the mise en scene shows them to be living in poverty. Even the drugs being used in the apartment are higher class this time showing cocaine. The close up to both the drugs and the gun show how even in a higher class society there is the same crime and danger.

The cinematography in the apartment scene there are many references to circles including the long shot where they are going up the stairs the shots is frame to be oval shaped and that the audience cannot see where the staircase starts and ends, looking like it just goes on. This is a reference to the Charles Baudelare quote that the "world only goes round by misunderstanding" and the fact that french society just becomes circular and nothing really changes. This is further referenced as the mise en scene the painting in the apartment is "Ascending and descending" by MC Escer. This is shows a never ending staircase which ties in to theme of the film that they can't get out. The painting is in the background of the wide with all the characters showing how it applies to them.

The music in the Apartment is scene classical which is different to any music seen before as it shows a higher class and a new environment for the characters. The characters see visually out of place in the apartment. The mise en scene of the clothing shows them wearing same thing as they would wear in the project. This contrasts the general environment and miss en scene of the area.

In an earlier scene where the characters are still in the project the mise en scene shows them to be portrayed more like animals and in a position of poverty. In the filming scene it uses low angle shots in the cinematography to show the they are bellow the other people in society. The mise en scene shows them to be also physically lower then the rest as the park is similar to an animal encloser with bars. This is also referenced by the characters themselves.

While the characters are being filmed the editing cuts being a point of view shot from the camera. This only happens when Vinz is aggravated although when they are filming before they are calm and there is no footage. This shows how the media only takes want they want to show in terms of representing those living in poverty and that general public are not shown the bigger picture. The close up shot shows purely Vinz's emotion and the words he says saying. This edited after the other shot the show the contrast between what is actually happening and what is being shown.

In the opening scene of City of God we see a chicken which is used to be a representation of the people in the favela. The uses close ups and extreme to emphasise the fear and violence to the chicken feels the extreme close up of knife cutting the chicken representing the violence that is happening to the others in the favela. This and the close up of chickens face reenforce the idea that they are scared of whats around them and the "Kill or be killed environment" with the chicken attempting to run away with all the people trying to kill it.

In a later scene we see as a mid shot of lil dice who is seen on top of a pile of bricks discussing his plans infront of the others. The mise en scene of the bricks are there to show the foundations of the city which Lil dice wants to be on this forshadows the characters role later in the film. The characters is with the older boys Shaggy, Clipper, and Goose giving them ideas which they eventually act on. The shot is framed to which lil dice is dominant person in this.

The party scene shows more what the characters roles in the film. The lighting and mise en scene of the clothing shows in the shot shows contrast between Lil Ze and Benny. Lil Ze is shown more in shadows when Benny has light shined on him. This shows hows Liz Ze is bad and Benny is good as the lights reflects their own personillity. Benny is dressed in black lower class clothing while Benny has died his hair lighter and wearing brighter cloths from out of the city. This shows Benny is moving away from what he used to be becoming less like Lil Ze.

Later in that scene we see constant flashing cuts to black this is used to make the audience feel  disoriented and hide the mystery of the killing if Benny in the scene. The diegetic music creates the opposite effect of the scene having up-beat party music constrast the dark violence that is happening. This creates a juxtaposition.

Overall la haine and city of god are similar in the themes of the urban environment. They both show circles in the risen scene and cinematography to show how the world goes round and that problems repeat without really being solved. The differences in the film come in the style with their being a lot more verisimilitude in La Haine.