Crash is a movie about racial stereotypes and how individuals let them influence the way they see people. The film has earned positive acclaim from critics and it’s easy to see why. Crash is unafraid to ask the hard questions and show a jarring reality that is often avoided on the silver screen. For this reason, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Although the film is often greatly dramatized, I believe the filmmakers were successful in their attempt to promote racial awareness. To accomplish this, the film boasts an ensemble cast of white men and women, several African American characters, several Hispanic characters, a Persian family, and several Asian characters. Through their daily lives and perspectives, we see many instances of discrimination from them and against them. i wouldn’t say that this movie is one of my favorites but again its an interesting movie.
The first thing you should know when starting this movie is that you should not make it totally positive or totally negative. Yes, this movie received three Oscars and was included in several lists of the best movies of all times.
However, it was reasonably criticized for reinforcing racial stereotypes and indirectly promoting the idea of white supremacy. Paradoxically, the movie motivating spectators to end racism on a personal level is full of prejudices and underlying motifs of white privilege.
Memorable scenes (includes some spoilers)
- People do not trust a Hispanic locksmith Daniel, assuming that he is a member of a gang on no other grounds except the fact that he has many tattoos and a shaved head. A white middle class woman, Jean, is afraid that Daniel will give copies of their keys to the members of his gang. A Persian shop owner, Farhad, does not believe Daniel and refuses to change a shattered door of his shop. Because of that door, Farhad’s shop is robbed.
- Daniel’s daughter is afraid of sleeping in her bed when she hears a gunshot in their street. Daniel wants to comfort his child and tells her to use an imaginary cloak making her invisible. Later on, the girl tries to save her father with that ‘invisible cloak’ from angry Farhad who decides to take revenge for his shop.
- Tom Hansen is a white policeman who is irritated by the racist remarks of his partner Ryan and asks to switch his partner. However, Hansen kills a black guy, Peter, thinking that Peter draws a gun on him, whereas in fact Peter does not.
- Ryan is a white policeman who makes racist remarks and sexually molests a black woman, Christine, when searching her, but later saves Christine’s life by pulling her out of a burning car.
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