Thursday, February 22, 2007

Watching these two movies back-to-back over the past weekend was mind-numbing. Themed with human sentiments deep in realism; where some of us would not even come close to experiencing is a lesson in learning.

Crash is about racism in the paradoxically free world known as America. Racism is unavoidable whoever, wherever you are. Malaysians in general have been taught to respect and tolerate each race's culture and beliefs against a tender hairline of racial tension. Americans deal with racism using guns. At the start of the movie, you are led to hate the bigot white cop. You sympathize with the Iranian immigrant. Blacks are usually up to no good. And then the reverse happens. You no longer hate the cop. Forgiveness does spur goodness. God was in control afterall. Everyone learned a lesson - misconceptions can escalate into unnecessary hatred. I won't say that I'm less of a racist after watching Crash. I don't think anyone can stop being one. It is ingrained in our animalistic nature for superiority. But I believe we can learn to genuinely love and understand one another - if we want to.

Babel touches on misconceptions as well. An accidental shooting of an American tourist in Morocco bursts into the media as an act of terrorism. An ensuing whirlwind of interlinking events envelopes the world. This is a story about kindness shown by the people you least expect from and friends who turn their backs on you whom you thought were dependable.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are not living alone. Crash and Babel did that for me.

9:47 PM 1 comments hmm?