‘Crash’ offers no clear path for L.A. to take

In Chris Lee’s article about “Crash” [“Cultural ‘Crash’ at the Water Cooler,” May 30], John Hegeman, president of worldwide marketing for Lions Gate, is quoted as saying that the film has “cultural relevance to it.” I wish he had elaborated, because it is lost on me.

All films are manipulative and have a point of view to one degree or another, but what exactly is the point of this “must-see” film -- that racism exists? Leaving aside the well-constructed, tension-building plot points, to what end do we follow these sorrowful characters? Their individual epiphanies don’t quite make up for the grueling, exaggerated misery they inflict on each other, and we can’t really be sure what conclusions they’ve arrived at. These things don’t have to be neatly wrapped up in any film, but the unrelenting race baiting neither reveals us to ourselves nor enlightens our life here in L.A.

Penny Peyser

Woodland Hills

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I did not feel anger when I saw “Crash.” Rather, I felt an overwhelming sadness that made me want to cry for my city, and for all of us who are ethnically, politically and racially diverse and cannot seem to be better for it. I too would love to see a happy ending, but the issues presented are too complex, people’s perceptions too easily formed and hard to change, and watching the movie just made me write to everyone to go see it so we can talk about it. We need to talk about it, and see each other in our strengths and frailties. We won’t survive otherwise.

Victoria Lee-Jerrems

Van Nuys