Review of Crash

Racism in America is inevitable. Racism in L.A is even more inevitable. The film “Crash” is a film that considers the racial attitudes and stereotypes of L.A where multi-racial attitudes are based on race, colour and creed. The film is a complex film with a simple speculation: set in Los Angeles and centres around eight main characters from all kinds of backgrounds and races whose lives intercept at some point during one 24 hour period. The characters although being different, they all share the feeling of alienation to the extent of breaking point, so much so that when they come together, things explode. 

The main theme in the film is racism. It is handled harshly, honestly and without skepticism. Every character is encompassed in this vicious cycle but also suffers from the consequences. The film conveys racists as either being comedic or bigoted and evil. The comedic banter of the black characters talking about how much unjustified hatred towards them in a white society, followed by them hijacking a car at gunpoint. The white attorney simply aware that race is politics. His white wife dependable on her position in society that leads to her with no friends. The casual matter of fact racisim of the Chinese character. But the best portrayal is done by Matt Dillion. The bigoted cop full of anger who is faced with a situation with his victim where they both have to behave humanely.

Everything conversation in the film circles around race. The racism that occurs in the films has been deemed as unrealistic but what is realistic are the white racist cops and carjackings by the black men. The racism in the film is manifested through social conditions and through anger resulting in hatred and prejudice. As well as the normal white on black manifestation of discrimination, the director introduces us with black discriminating Latino, Latino discriminating Asian, whites discriminating middle-eastern and so on.  When cultural differences occur, there is room for tension. By portraying bigoted characters as being caring people, Crash asks the audience to contemplate the reasons for racism as much as to examine its effects.