bumbishop

Crash. It was brought to my attention by someone writing a brilliant screenplay of his own. An encounter with Terrence Howard was the reason why the movie was mentioned to me. I was told that Hustle and Flow was the better movie, but to be honest, I thought Crash was one of the best movies I've ever seen. Keep in mind, however, that I'm no expert in movies. I like what I like and dislike what bores me, and there never appears to be any rhyme or reason to what makes the cut and what doesn't. No other movie, that I can think of, has been both repulsive and beautiful at equal degrees.

Nothing bothers me more than discrimination. And, personally, I think one of the most beautiful things on this earth is personal growth. This movie captures both with its seemingly endless irony. Even though I'm a 'girly girl', it is rare that a movie would bring real tears to my eyes. But I found myself searching for a tissue as a racist, white LAPD officer helped save the life of the black woman he molested earlier.



Yes, the irony in the movie was easy to predict in most instances, but it didn't stop me from yelling at the TV as the little girl wearing the invisible, impenetrable cape ran into her father's arms as the Persian store owner shot his gun. "I'll protect you, Daddy," she cried. Needless to say my tears flowed again. It was the Hispanic father who gave her the cape, to make her feel safe, in a dangerous neighbourhood.



LA, filled with such beauty, but able to produce such ugliness. Don't get me wrong, it's not isolated to one city. Ugliness will follow us humans wherever we go. I'm reminded of living in Miami because I can describe it's vile-laced attractiveness first hand.



As a "fucking rich, daddy's girl" I was warned to stay away from Liberty City. It's a "poor black community" located in downtown Miami. "Someone like you would be wise to lock the doors as you drive through, but I'd avoid it completely if I were you," I was told. But I could not. Because located next to Liberty City was the Miami-Dade Public Library, which shared it's building with a cultural centre and a historical museum. Such beauty despite the human ugliness surrounding it. I'm talking about preconceived notions and the racism that exists.



I was also warned about certain areas of 8th Street, otherwise known as 'Little Havana'. I wouldn't understand I was told. So where was this white kid from the north to live if Miami were to be my home? Kendall, an upscale suburb of Miami. I'd fit right in. Nice.



Most of my neighbours were white, while I walked past the Cuban lady who vacuumed the hallway every afternoon. The gardener for our building was a nice, friendly guy from Haiti. The monthly exterminator man was from Puerto Rico. Everything was right with the world. Rich, white girl living it up while poor foreigners did the dirty work.



I would escape to the beach to be reminded of earth's beauty, where sand and water got along beautifully. The sun giving each of us equal attention, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. It's too bad we can't get it right like Mother Nature. I always returned to my English class on Monday morning. If one had taken a picture of our class, it would have looked beautiful. Twenty international students, consisting of about 8 nationalities, including the Japanese-Jamaican instructor. All sitting together in learning. But hidden deep in that picture would have been prejudice, because if there was sound, you would hear the 19 year old from Puerto Rico refer to the shy, white girl from Canada as a "fucking cracker".



Maybe I finally get it. Maybe that's the fascination with LA. Such natural diversity co-existing. It's unfortunate that we humans can't do the same. I've rambled enough...



I just thought it was a good movie. I guess I should now see what Hustle and Flow is all about.

bumbishop, bumbl.