Movie Review: Race And Racism In The Movie Crash

In 2004 Paul Haggis directed the Oscar winning film Crash, a drama fundamentally about race and its effects on various people in Los Angeles. The acclaimed movie earned rave reviews from average viewers, as it asked hard questions about racism on an individual level and showed some harsh realities that are usually avoided on the big screen. The movie promotes racial awareness, but like any conversation about race, it demands close inspection. Upon telling a friend I was watching the film and was struck by how heavy the material is, he responded, �It�s reality.� I am not so sure. Crash shows realities, but in a not-so-realistic way. We do not learn very much about each character in Crash, but we know enough to figure out how Haggis wants us

District Attorney and his wife, played by Brendan Fraser and Sandra Bullock. These are beautiful, confident, well-off characters whose social status is evident at first sight. Jean grabs her husband�s arm upon seeing two young black men in the street and Anthony, played by Ludacris, notes she is a typical racist white woman for expressing her fear in such a safe place. Anthony goes on to steal her car. In a sense, Haggis demonstrates Jean�s racism by having her clutch her husband for security, but goes on to right her decision when the black men actualize her fears. We do not leave the scene feeling her actions were reprehensible. This is not the first time, even within the same character, that Haggis conveys approval of the white character�s racist action. Sangeeta Ray, also in College English, criticizes this scene, which �always gets a lot of laughs, but what exactly does it confirm? Our fears, our prejudices are correct, and spatial segregation is a necessary evil.� (3) As the scene plays out, Jean reaches for her husband in fear because she apparently should be afraid because her car is going to be stolen. In just a short scene, Haggis allows the worst to happen. No breaking down of stereotypes takes place, in fact quite the opposite. She continues, �To me, this assertion by the black characters � about their own propensity for violence � is the clearest example of the film�s inability to delve critically into the construction of whiteness...� (3) Though I cannot agree that Haggis believes Jean Cabot�s fears are legitimate, the reactions of some viewers would suggest so. Watching this scene one would first identify Jean�s behavior as highly prejudiced, and then upon seeing the car stolen, would be left wondering if she was right all