A 'Crash' course on Humanity.


The award for the best film, at the Oscars went to ‘Crash’, directed by Paul Haggis, though there was much expectation that it would be ‘Brokeback Mountain’, for it’s different story and stunning visuals of the landscapes, brilliantly captured by Ang Lee. Why Crash won, was a question that lingered on my mind, and the basic conclusion, that I had come, to was that the jury was pressurized into giving the award to the this film, because it was a goody-goody film which spreads a message against racial discrimination.

So, it was with a rather disinterest and a yet a little curiosity that I sat down yesterday night to see Crash. But once, the film was over, I realized that I had not even shifted in my place. The movie, is not just a film, which shouts aloud messages and forces goodness right in your face and down your throat, rather it was like a poem. The movie is so poetic in the different frames and situations, It was so symbolic and realistic that you don’t feel you are just seeing a movie, because we see in it, life, we see in it, our own emotions and our own understanding of humanity, it’s flaws, deceptions and it’s purity and importance.

Humanity is a strange word, it means different things at different times for different people, but basically the underlying philosophy, is that in times of crisis, we rise above barriers of race, caste, creed, language, colour or religion and become just human beings, a wonderful concept. When we see no differences, when we see that we have the opportunity to make a difference, then we become, in essence humane.

Our heart pains everyday when we hear of loss of lives, bloodshed, treachery, calamities. We sympathize and grieve for those unlucky fellow beings, yet it is not easily that we give care to the small humane acts, we could perform on a day-to-day basis. We donate to the Tsunami Fund, Katrina Relief and what not, but do we take care to see to it that we don’t hurt another human being’s feelings, his emotions. We often forget to put ourselves in our friend’s shoes. We do not take kindly to some delay or some diversion in our routines, and we never bother about helping out.


Like ‘Crash’, I believe there is no meaning in just crying out, and cribbing. To make a long story short, we should change the basic definition of humanity, We need to remove the crisis part of it, thereby we remain humane all the while and the world becomes a better place, not just for you and me, but for us, citizens of planet earth.

Comments

Marutham said…
Finally a good movie on this great word "HUMANITY!!" I wish i see the movie during my sem hols... //Like ‘Crash’, I believe there is no meaning in just crying out, and cribbing. To make a long story short, we should change the basic definition of humanity, We need to remove the crisis part of it, thereby we remain humane all the while and the world becomes a better place, not just for you and me, but for us, citizens of planet earth// Well said Sri! Recently i saw a movie called" Pay it FWD!! " It was a nice try... And Yes! We must live in a world where we see every other person just as another human, and not a black/white/... Nice thought!! Good Analysis
Scoot said…
beautifully said.I have not yet got a chance to watch the movie but have heard so much about it.
srijithunni said…
@Marutham : Hi!, Shall try to see "Pay it Fwd" Thanks for the appreciation.

@Maya : Thanks, Maya. Do see it, if you get a chance.
Dh@v@! said…
I haven’t seen the movie so can’t comment on that but after reading ur post I think I must see it. BTW ur a gud writer… keep it up…
srijithunni said…
@Dhaval : Hi!, Thanks a lot for coming by and your compliment.
Your writing urges me to watch crash! I didnt see broke back either, coz i dont think I really wanted to see it with its theme, maybe its just a personal choice...Lemme try n get a hold of CRASH!
Ram said…
Hey Srijith, I saw pieces of Crash as I had a general idea of what the movie was about and was not into the mood at that time. Perhaps, soon, I will have the time and inclination to watch it.

But, your thoughts are so very true. How did we lose something so simple yet so basic in our day to day lives?

Ram
srijithunni said…
@scribblez : Yeah do see crash!, and let me know what you feel about it.

@Ram : It`s just that I felt it`s a good movie and blogged about it, but seeing all your comments i feel i`ve been doing some canvassing. Yes Ram, it`s just that we forget such simple things in our life and this movie triggered that thought in my mind.
Prash said…
ok...i always didn't want to get into talk much about it because i thought it was always so evident...but now i see that i have to after reading your post...

Crash got the Oscar for the best film because the Jury is not yet ready to give the best award to a gay movie which talks about Love and only Love..They are all old and homophobes...simple as that.

I saw Crash a long time ago and when the movie came out in Europe, the critics was not great ...and everybody forgot about the movie. Everybody got surprised by the announcement because nobody thought Crash would get even if they had doubts that BB Mountain would not get because they knew that gay love as a main theme won't win the best award...

BB Mountain is not just beautiful landscapes. It is History of Old America...in Texan mountains about a love of two people...One openly admitting that he is in love and the other one is denying...One has to go those days in States and try to put in those characters to see what it is. And one should admit that actors did a great job...and the direction was great too ( Ang Lee got the prize for that..bravo )

Yes, Crash is a nice movie which showed the general cliched ideas we have and the paranoid world we live in. That maybe more of reality than about a love story of two men in the texan mountains in the years of 60's. Was that a criteria for a movie to be given the best movie award ?

Many of my friends who saw BB Mountain in India told me that Censor Board did a great job and people hardly understand what was going on...So bad that a good movie is censored to become a bad movie.
srijithunni said…
@ Prash : Well, i`ve not seen Brokeback mountain, never got the chance. so didn`t really make a comparative study. and I guess you`re right having a gay storyline shouldn`t be a disqualification. I just would like to add, I`ve only been sharing my perception of the movie and I am not really canvassing for it :-)
Anonymous said…
sreejith i really enjoyed being in ur blog and i totally agree with ur VIEW on CRASH which i think is one of the best movies i have ever seen so far.I really enjoyed the folding and unfolding of humn emotions and the misary of being humane.

suresh
srijithunni said…
@Suresh : I`m very glad to know that you enjoyed being in my blog, and yes!, the folding and unfolding of human emotions... Cleverly put there, buddy! Nice meeting you,.. however why the anonymous way..? :)

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