Crash

Brian Conaty

Dr. Jones

2/28/15

Crash

Few movies can effectively depict both the polar ends of humanity and the progression from each side. The movie Crash is set in the melting-pot of contemporary Los Angeles, and offers a glimpse into the lives of diverse sects of interconnecting people. This film was written, produced, and directed by first-time major film director Paul Haggins, who integrated concepts from his person life into the movie. Haggins earned his clout in the film industry for his work on the Academy Award-winning movie Million Dollar Baby and became the first person to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years, following Crash.

Crash is framed within a thirty-six hour window of altering perspectives between varied ethnic, economic, and ideologically characters. This dynamic view allows for numerous attitudes to be portrayed within a similar context. This film provides powerful symbolism that forces the audience to face their own prejudices. These symbols are conveyed in an array of objects, persons, positions, and even the title itself. However, although the film highlights the many degrees of prejudice and racism exhibited through all of its characters, they all redeem and better themselves by the end of the film. Thus, the chief principle in Crash is the emphasis on the belief of racial and ethnic progress, over its conflict of cultures.

The most apparent symbolism in the movie is the title itself, Crash. This metaphor is applicable in numerous ways. First, the film begins and ends with a car crash. Also, the title implies the coincidence of accidental occurrences, the conflict of cultures, and just straightforward destruction. All of these are key elements to the movie that Paul Haggins attempts to project. This film is also set during the winter season, during which an array of religious holidays is celebrated. The religions that are depicted in this movie consist of Catholicism, Buddhism, and Islam....