Theresa Corvino - Crash

Crash
Dir: Paul Haggis
2004

Synopsis: The film tells the story of several characters with their own stories that intertwine with each other. One of a racist cop and his partner who is trying to help his father with a medical condition. One is a husband and wife in a struggling marriage that is only made worse when they are stopped by the cop. Another is a locksmith who is trying to provide for his family and keep his daughter safe. Still another is a convenience store owner who does not understand the system and blames the locksmith when his store is robbed. And lastly, there is a social elite couple who is trying to survive when she sees villains in every corner after being robbed by two punk kids.

This film directly takes on the issue of racism in our modern world. It is clear that the ideology of this film is that racism is wrong, but the film recognizes that it is less simple than that. It does not paint all those that are racist as horrible people or those that are victims as completely innocent characters. It makes each of the story’s characters multi-dimensional to see many of the origins of their racism and the motivations for it. It makes no excuse for their opinions but offers a sympathetic eye into their situation. The film does not focus on the persecution of one group of people but three: African Americans, Hispanics, and Middle Easterners. This allows it the ability to paint with a larger brush and not stereotype one group or people. It also recognizes a larger problem of racism than is usually seen. Although this film can be gritty and hard to watch at time, it presents a clear reality with simplicity and meaning that truly focuses in on its message without distorting it or hiding behind a comfort level barrier.