Review of Crash

"It's hard to describe Crash without it sounding earnest. But while this provocative drama tackles racism, class and looking beyond appearances, it's anything but worthy or dull. Following several lives as they, yes, crash together during one day in LA, it's fuelled by powerhouse performances from an outstanding cast.

Writer/director Paul Haggis (who scripted Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winner Million Dollar Baby) sets out to address difficult issues: why middle-class whites are afraid of working-class blacks, why being racist doesn't necessarily mean being inhuman, and how politics confuses the truth ("What are you, the ****ing defender of all things white?" yells William Fichtner's scheming internal affairs officer at Cheadle)." (BBC- http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/08/01/crash_2005_review.shtml)

From the very beginning of the film Crash sets up to be direct and upfront in its representation of race issues. I found the way in which the film brings together people of different ethnicity's and reflected how discrimination or judgement on a persons race has consequences that go further than first imagined interesting. Rather than portraying the issue of racism as black vs white, or one issue, it sets out to show how the issue has a 'knock-on' affect to the lives of many (the locksmiths daughter getting caught up in the misunderstanding between the Persian shopkeeper and her father after they are robbed etc) and that discrimination does not just come from the white community.

It challenges ideas of assimilation, and shows that even if immigrants do attempt to fit in they are often rejected or a victim of prejudice- the Persian shop keeper being a good example of this, it is a right as an American to own a gun, yet because of his language issues he is refused a gun, he is not treated as an equal American citizen because the shop keeper assumes he might be a terrorist. The section of the film where the high ranking black police officer ignores the young colleagues complaint about his partner is another example of the film highlighting that racism is not a case of white against black, it can also be black vs black, and that some people stood to gain from turning a blind eye. The film has be criticised for its representation (or lack of) of the Asian community, some critics have said it re-enforced stereotypes, some of the many comments:

Does anyone feel that the portrayal of Asian Americans in the movie Crash was sad if
not poorly represented?
e.g.
1. the stereotypical "bad" asian woman driver
2. the "chinaman" with the thai slaves (WHO, by the way were saved, NOT by another Asian, but by Ludicris)

It just seemed like whenever it came to Asians, they were all grouped together like they're all the same. NO, distinction between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Filipino..etc... slanty eyes, brown or yellow skin = Asian

Asian characters had no depth or personality like the Black, White and hispanic characters did. Even the Middle-Eastern guy seemed kind of over the top a little...

I did find it true that in typical Hollywood fashion all the characters are 'redeemed'regretting their actions (angry white lady, who admits she is mean and then gets what was coming to her...) the black car thief (who frees the immigrants) except for the Asian/Chinese ones- the Chinese mans immigrants are saved by another race and there is no real reedeming element of the plot.

The young police officers shooting of the innocent black man holding the figurine whilst giving him a lift posed the question are 'hate' crimes more crimes of fear? It highlighted for me that it was more the officers fear of the man (due to his race, or that he was 'on edge' after a busy day?) and that in certain cases that irrational fear can lead to death; that is contrasted with the experience of the young couple who are fearful of the two men on the street, and are then subsequently held at gunpoint. So what is the film saying about racial tensions and fears? Was the white woman's prejudice justified because she was robbed? I don't think so. The film centers a lot around coincidence and chance, and I think the film is trying to say that race aside prejudice and fear over race is harmful.

A very moving film that reflects how racism and the subsequent prejudice and violence that follows it is harmful to society as a whole, not just the individuals involved.