The Similarities and Differences Between the Two Main Characters in the Film "Crash"

In Crash, various citizens from Los Angeles who lead different lifestyles interact in a way that depicts the tense racial tensions hidden within the city. The characters in Crash are depicted as having stark differences based on their racial and mental states. The storyline is filled with a depiction of how people from different races such as Asians, African Americans, Caucasians, and Persians interact. While most of the characters portray similar qualities, they also indicate some differences that cannot be ignored. For example, Farhad, who is the store owner and of Persian origin, portrays some similar and differing characteristics as Jean, who is a mother and wife to the District Attorney, Rick Cabot. This paper seeks to compare and contrast the qualities depicted by the characters in Crash. Farhad is depicted as the character who recently moved to LA and started his own store. He spends his days selling items to customers at the store. In the film, Farhad is portrayed as a loud, angry, and heavily accented store owner of Persian origin (Crash, 2004 Film). Based on his origin from a minor race, Farhad endures criticism and disrespect from the privileged members of the community. For instance, the gun store owner makes a derogatory remark about Farhard’s association with terrorism. Subsequently, the gun store owner throws Farhad out of his premises. Later, Farhad meets a Locksmith from Mexico who has come to fix the lock in Farhad's store. After fixing the lock, the locksmith insinuates that Farhad must fix the door. In doing this, the locksmith is trying to prevent Farhards' store from being robbed. However, Farhad can hear none of it, and he yells at the locksmith who leaves the store without payment. Later that night, Farhad's store is robbed due to his negligence in failing to fix the lock (Crash, 2004 Film). Farhad is angry at the happenings, and he carries his gun to the locksmith's house. He feels aggrieved and believes that the locksmith must have participated in the burglary. When he finds the locksmith, he tries to shoot him, and the locksmith's daughter jumps in front of her father to protect him. The daughter is unscathed since Farhad has been shooting blank bullets. Farhad realizes his mistake, and he surrenders to the will of his angel, who will come down like a little girl and protect him from harm. Jean, the wife of Rick Cabot, the Los Angeles District Attorney, is portrayed as a typical rich white woman who insists on not being racist but constantly demeans people based on race and ethnicity. For example, at one time, she met the Locksmith who was fixing the window in Farhad’s store. Jean is not contented even after the locks are changed, and she tells her husband that she wants the locks changed since she does not want the locksmith to go to his "Amigos" and distribute the keys to have their house burglarized. Besides, she states that she felt insecure while walking alongside two black men in the street. Her insecurity was well-founded since the men had their vehicle stolen at gunpoint, as she witnessed (Crash, 2004 Film). When Jean falls down the stairs, she seeks solace in her circle of friends. However, none of them is willing to help her. The only person who comes to her aid is her househelp, whom she considers to be below her class. It is at this point that Jean realizes that a true friend is someone who is willing to assist in times of need, and not necessarily an individual from the same class. The film captures the stark racial differences among people in Los Angeles. Just as the film suggests, individuals from minority races are treated differently from individuals believed to belong to privileged races. Walker, Spohn & DeLone (2011) states that a disproportionate number of crime victims are usually minorities. This, therefore, indicates why Farhad fails to allow the door locks to be changed by the locksmith. While Farhad and the locksmith belong to minority groups, Farhad is wary of the locksmith since he believes he had bad intentions when he advised him to change the door locks. Farhad’s fears are confirmed that night when his store is vandalized, and goods were stolen. The same case happens when Jean has the locks to her house changed. June feels insecure and demands that the locks be changed after a day since she believes the locksmith is involved in a syndicate that can rob the house. The locksmith’s actions indicate why individuals from minority races are treated with discord and also believed to be untrustworthy. 

Conclusion 

This paper has evaluated the similarities and differences between the two main characters in the film "Crash," Farhad and Jean. Farhad, a store owner, is Persian, while Jean, the wife to the District Attorney in Los Angeles, is white. The film seeks to portray the racial tensions among characters. The findings indicate that, despite Farhad and Jean’s differences in race, beliefs, and values, they share many characteristics. These different and similar values are portrayed along the storyline as the film progresses. For example, June criticizes and discredits any person associated with the minority races. She feels insecure while walking alongside blacks in the streets and orders the locks to be changed again, a day after the locksmith changed them. On the other hand, Farhad belongs to a minority race but feels insecure after the locksmith’s remarks about changing the locks. He is further dismayed when his store is robbed the same night. 

References 

Crash. (2004 Film). Official Trailer (HD). Directed by Paul Haggis. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3ahUiPnIvY 

Walker, S., Spohn, C. & DeLone, M. (2011). The color of justice: race, ethnicity, and crime in America (The Wadsworth Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Series), 5 th Edition. New York: Cengage Learning.