”Crash” Movie Reflection Paper

In the movie Crash, they show a lot of different values, myths, rituals, networks, and symbols used by people in the movie. They also show many bias and prejudices other wise known as stereotypes that many people in the world use today.

Trust was one of the biggest values I saw throughout in the movie, for example after the two young men drew handguns and carjacked the Cabots’ vehicle, they returned home and the wife Jean was still upset, and even though a locksmith was already changing the door locks, she wanted it done again the next day. Jean claimed the locksmith would sell the keys and that they would be robbed again. The locksmith, Daniel, overheard and left the two sets of keys on the kitchen counter as he left. Another value I continued to see throughout the movie was that of family when Graham went to visit his mother. She was worried about the younger brother who ran away and had been missing. Graham again promised to find him and before leaving, he noticed a bottle of sour milk in the fridge. Graham returns to his mother’s place later as she sleeps unaware with fresh groceries for her.

The myth in this movie that interested me the most was when Daniel was talking to his young daughter as she was hiding under her bed, because she was afraid of bullets from the bad neighborhood they recently moved away from. To protect her from bullets, he gives her an invisible cloak, and then puts her to sleep. Later in the movie Farhad confronted Daniel in Daniel’s driveway, pointing his gun at him and demanding money to repair the ruined store. Daniel tries to calm him down when his daughter runs out to protect him with her “invisible cloak.” As she jumps into her father’s arms, Farhad fires a shot from close range. Daniel then checks the girl and finds no blood. Surprised he brings her inside and leaves a stunned Farhad in the street. Farah’s daughter comes to see her father in the store. He says he found a guardian angel and gives her the handgun. Dorri goes to check the red box of bullets. They were labeled “.38 Special Blanks”

Rituals I saw throughout this movie included the radio checks with the police officers, after Hansen talks to Lieutenant about changing partners. The lieutenant, a black man, tells Hansen that claiming Ryan is a racist will make him look like a bad manager. If Hansen wants to change, he has to claim to have a flatulence problem and needs to ride alone. After Hansen gets into a police unit by himself, the dispatcher makes a fart joke. Also the biggest ritual I saw throughout this movie was that of the statue of St. Christopher the patron saint of travel that caused the death of Peter. When Peter was picked up by the off duty Hansen, Peter began laughing at the St. Christopher statue on the dashboard and reached into his pocket to show his. A nervous Hansen thought it was a gun, then drew his gun and shot him dead. Shocked by what he did, he pushed the dead Peter out of his car on an isolated dark road.

The networks involved in this movie kind of shocked me, for example at the chop shop, the owner Lucien tells Anthony and Peter he can’t buy the Navigator parts from the stolen Navigator because of the blood stains. Another network that shocked me was that of the DA and Graham, when Flanagan, Rick Cabot’s campaign manager talks to Graham. Flanagan brings up details about Graham’s missing brother and some criminal charges against him which could be dropped. He also hints at a good job with Cabot if Graham agrees with the story to blame the white cop. Graham reluctantly agrees and Cabot immediately announces the lie to the press.

Cars are the most obvious symbol in the movie. The vehicles range from an expensive SUV to a public bus. The SUVs suggest class and wealth, and a sense of entitlement to drive a gas-guzzling automobile in an energy strapped environment. The bus, as Anthony said, is associated with the working class who cannot afford their own cars. Another symbol that presented itself throughout the movie was that of the statue of Saint Christopher. Peter insists on placing a statue of Saint Christopher – the saint of safe travels, on the dashboard of the vehicle that he is in. But ironically, each time Saint Christopher appears, tragedy occurs.

The bias and prejudices of the characters towards others were evident in each character, but I noticed Jean and Rick Cabot, a white couple. While walking down the sidewalk, Jean noticed the two black men and clutched Rick’s arm. Anthony took it as a racial slight, but then the two young men drew handguns and carjacked the Cabots’ black Lincoln Navigator. Also LAPD Officer John Ryan called an HMO Administrator about his father’s medical situation; the administrator seems sympathetic but remains bureaucratic. When she mentions her name is Shaniqua, Ryan makes an angry comment and she hangs up.

The bias and prejudices I had were towards Anthony, after they left the restaurant. Anthony claimed they were victims of racism and poor service, while Peter laughed it off. I believe Anthony likes to think he’s always the victim when in reality he’s not. He’s only looked down upon based on his actions on stealing and other crimes committed, which gives good reason to be looked down upon I believe. Another prejudice I had was toward shop owner Farhad, because at first I assumed he was Arab instead of Persian and I always thought Arab or Persian people have shops to support them and their family.