Crash : Reinforcing Discourse ?

Director Paul Haggis
Writers Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco
Release date September 10, 2004
Running time 122 Min Theatrical

Crash advocates peace, inter-racial harmony and humanity above all.

But, does it try to cover up the hegemonic suppression (by so called wasp Americans) on all minor ethnic groups, by shifting its focus on inter-racial conflict? Does it reinforce the enlightenment discourse that white men acts form reason, and all 'others' from pure instinct? Is it a white-self-written 'confessional' narrative where, it reaches 'realization' though a reasoned path, whereas the others reach 'epiphany' through divine intervention? "Moving at the speed of life, we are bound to collide with each other" – is this tagline a kind of lame excuse to deep rooted ethno-political conflicts? These are the questions came to my mind.

From Persia to Mexico, from China to El Salvador or Puerto Rico, the ethno-geography of the film is too elaborate to discuss each case keeping in mind its exclusive reality. And moreover I don't know whether the collage presented here is made up of real pictures or not.

Wiki reminds, some critics also thought institutionalized, anti-minority racism wasn't evaluated enough in the film, and that by focusing more on individual prejudices it is "self-indulgent" for white Americans who "want to feel victimized".

I can't be sure if it fell victim of the very discourse it intends to fight.