Bradford 2025: La Haine & Asian Dub Foundation live – review

La Haine – Live, Asian Dub Foundation at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Credit: Andy Benge

Asian Dub Foundation reprise their iconic soundtrack to cult classic ‘La Haine’ for an impassioned celebration of the city’s cinematic heritage.

Bradford has long been deeply connected to the world of film. A backdrop for stunning shooting locations and the birthplace of inspirational directors, the city has played a pivotal role in the cinematic history of the UK. Since being recognised as the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in 2009, Bradford has embraced its rich cinematic heritage to drive forward creative developments within schools and the local community, making use of its reputation to support creative developments for the future.

‘Bradford 2025,’ the city’s year-long celebration of its culture and its people, will be presenting many opportunities for people to celebrate this heritage, either by experiencing something fresh and unique or revisiting beloved classics. The screening of the cult classic ‘La Haine’ at St George’s Hall was a brilliant early event in the cultural calendar, which seamlessly tied two creative pillars essential to Bradford’s cultural identity—music and film— and set the tone for an electrifying year of entertainment.

La Haine – Live, Asian Dub Foundation at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Credit: Andy Benge

“So Far So Good… So Far So Good…” is potentially one of the most famous quotes from Mathieu Kassovitz’s cult classic ‘La Haine,’ a film that has been repeatedly praised for its artistic direction and social influence in its near thirty-year existence. Though this quote is used throughout the film to depict a society on the brink of unrest, it reflects the recent success of Bradford’s first year as the UK’s City of Culture. In a one-night showing at Bradford’s famous St. George’s Hall, the 1995 film took on an explosive and exciting new perspective as Asian Dub Foundation pulled from a selection of jungle rhythms and dub bass lines to create a soundtrack that only enhanced the film’s powerful narrative.

Following a group of three troubled friends across 24 hours in the heart of Paris, Kassovitz’s compelling tale of a city on the cusp of change showed flashes of a community similar to the one in Bradford’s city centre today. In the vivid imagery and stunning dialogue in ‘La Haine’, we can  draw comparisons between two environments inspired by a diverse mix of cultures and opinions. From the marriage of disparate groups to politically charged themes of social justice, Asian Dub Foundation’s reprise of their soundtrack to the iconic French film was a marvellous and innovative celebration of Bradford’s cultural story, marking an exceptional start to a year set to “spotlight Bradford’s dynamic contemporary arts and culture.” 

La Haine – Live, Asian Dub Foundation at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Credit: Andy Benge

Sat inside the grand St George’s Hall alongside a sold-out crowd of people of all ages, this event felt like a milestone in the beginning of the city’s celebrations. Not only was I excited to see how Asian Dub Foundation’s musical contribution offered a new perspective to the 1995 film, but I was also overjoyed to share this experience with others who were so evidently proud of Bradford’s creative output. The film was just as I first remembered, a whirlwind now further spurred on by the powerful soundtrack Asian Dub Foundation had meticulously crafted. It was fantastic to see that with the throwing of a fist or the firing of a gun, the dramatic tale remained just as significant as it was in the wake of its release.

There was a notable buzz even as the film ended, as the audience members littered into the foggy city centre, many heading for trains and buses back out of the city; it was clear that this was a focal point  of a year bound to highlight Bradford’s position on the map, enticing those from further afield. Whilst Bradford is often viewed in the shadow of Leeds or even Manchester, this event exhibited a willingness to innovate and differ from the norm that has become a testament to Bradford’s growing creative culture, and it’s this very innovation that will hopefully pave the way for a whole new generation of eager creatives.