Crash Analysis

Crash is an example of a non-linear film. This means the story has a beginning, middle and end but it is not shown in that order.

I think the purpose of this film is to display the different types of prejudice and discrimination in the modern world, as every character is flawed with some type of prejudice. However, to make the characters more interesting they all have either a redeeming quality or are shown to be discriminated themselves to make the audience empathise towards them. Some examples would be Detective Graham Waters who, makes racist remarks about Hispanics and also frames an innocent white male in order to hail a black police officer a hero, but then is also shown to be taking care of his sick mother. Despite the characters flaws, the audience is made to sympathise with them through their redeeming quality, e.g his kindness towards his mother.

Another example would be Cameron Thayer, he is a black TV director, which was unusual at the time in LA, the audience sympathises with him as he is seen on numerous accounts being subject to racism, however he allows his producer to change the dialogue in his show as it 'wasn't black enough' and also does nothing when his wife is molested by a white police officer. This makes the character more complex and leaves the decision up to the audience on whether his flaws can be justified.

The movie commences at the end where Detective Graham Waters is arriving at the scene of a dead body, and has just been involved in a crash with a Chinese woman. By starting at the end the story seems more mysterious as the audience don't yet know how the character got to this stage. This also engages them as they try and piece together the story throughout the film in order to get to the conclusion at the end.

 The film also includes stereotypes of nearly every race, there are 2 black male characters who are car thieves, the only white couple are wealthy and privileged, and the Chinese man was human trafficking. Although the film falls in to these stereotypes it also shows a deeper insight into the characters thoughts and feelings and shows why they are like that - usually through racial prejudice.

There was a lot of close up camera  shots used in this film, this was to focus on each characters emotions as the film focuses on the characters emotional growth and change during the different events.  The close up shot reduces the distance between the subject and the audience, meaning the audience can connect on a more personal level with the characters.

 

I think that Crash is effective as it shows a more realistic representation of society as a whole. Even though there are stereotypes and prejudice's towards people, it isn't as simple as one group against another. Everyone is flawed and I think that is what this film is trying to get across.