CRASH is arguably one of the most controversial films ever, though it may be unfair to peremptorily conclude the film is all about racism and racial tension. The story narration is intense and gripping - but it must be said that most of the characters appear only in brief snippets. But Director Haggis has avoided the cinematic twists and more focuses on real people disregarding the standard Hollywood commercial success formula.
Plot, Characters and Storyline
The movie starts off with a big car accident scene with a hysterical Asian lady shouting at the investigating cops. The movie hops from scene to scene, where different characters play their parts breeding racial tension and displaying naked intolerance for one another’s ethnic background and cultural upbringing.
There is no denying the story line is somewhat confusing with several plots interwoven and with a host of characters - a police investigating officer with a drug addict mother and a younger brother who is a thief. The other characters include two car thieves who keep continuously sermonizing on race and society, a white skin district attorney and his much pampered and peevish wife.
You have a racist white policeman who has to care for a sick father who is pitted against his younger sibling, an idealist and a Hollywood director and his wife. Hold your breath – there are more characters. You come across a Persian-immigrant father who trots a gun to guard his shop, a Hispanic locksmith with his charming daughter who has a phobia for bullets, - well, the list of characters is endless.
Racism and Ethnicity
CRASH revolves around people from different backgrounds confronting one another. It can be said that the life and happenings of each person in the film is personally victimized or ruined by racism. CRASH offers no specific solutions to racism - though occasionally the characters shed their fears and become more tolerant.
There is no denying that Crash deals with racial stereotypes but the movie is also based on real life scenarios of the people of different ethnicity. Judged by audience reaction, the movie Crash is a runaway success. There is a terrific sense of involvement and one can perceive the audience getting angry, bitter, sad and remorseful - by turns - watching the successive sordid scenes as the story unfolds. Though this is only fiction, the people watching the movie are dismayed at the shocking behavior and mutual recriminations of the racist-minded people.
The dialogue is sharp and thought-provoking as one listens to the characters as they speak on weighty issues like poverty, racism and social apathy. Haggis’ script is full of zest and the film touches a chord forcing you to tell your friends to see it. If all people all over saw this film and became resentful of racist practices and reformed their outlook, the world will become a better place for all of us to live in.
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