Review of "Crash"

“Crash” Directed by Paul Haggis”

“Crash” is a film of many layers, layers which we the audience see link and eventually come together. It starts and ends within a twenty four hour time period and follows twelve characters as they live their lives in Los Angeles. “Crash” focuses in on racism without any reservations or apologises and projects it as an issue which is not only a factor in these people’s lives but is the factor. From all angles we see what it is like to be a victim and to be the one who is indeed the racist. The way in which writer and director Paul Haggis plays the game of film making makes the viewers and critics not only understand but almost empathise with why these people are being racist.

But as citizens from a modern society we must ask ourselves if that is right? Should we be doing that? Surely any racism is wrong? Haggis raises these questions throughout his film but I am just not entirely sure is he ever actually answered them. The situations he put the characters in are verging beyond unbelievable which doesn’t exactly help with his desperate plea for realism.

By the end of film you are left with a rather strange taste in your mouth - one in which you just can't quite recognise. We are faced with confusion about whether Haggis ever intended his film to be about racism or if it is merely by pure chance.

I am sure that we will never really know which is sad as I guess we will never truly understand this film.