Saint Christopher Statuette (symbol)
According to a legend, Saint Christopher carried an unknown child across a dangerous river. Later, that child revealed himself to be Christ. For this action, Saint Christopher became biblically recognized as the patron saint of travelers. Both Peter and Officer Hansen carry Saint Christopher statuettes with them, indicating their mutual ties to spirituality. Their shared possession of Saint Christopher iconography points to one of the film’s most profound examples of irony. In Peter’s death, we learn that the Saint Christopher statuette cannot protect against bigotry.
Christmas Decorations (symbol)
As Rick Cabot talks to his assistant over the phone, we notice the appearance of a Christmas tree in-frame. In the United States, Christmas represents a time of happiness, gratitude, and the appreciation of family. The birth of Jesus and the holiday’s proximity to the New Year symbolizes the start of new and fresh beginnings. However, Crash is void of holiday cheer. Instead, characters engage in ungrateful and selfish actions, and families bicker and grow distant from one another.
Invisible Impenetrable Cloak (symbol)
Daniel gives Lara an invisible impenetrable cloak after he finds her hiding under her bed from the sound of gunshots. As a father, Daniel is protecting his daughter from the cruel realities of the outside world. However, his desire to preserve Lara’s innocence draws attention to Daniel’s own optimism, which shades into naiveté. As a character, Daniel believes that working hard and doing the right thing will ultimately ensure the safety of his family. However, Daniel’s confrontation with Farhad challenges the locksmith’s notions of morality and safety. Daniel is able to understand the impact and effectiveness of his fatherhood when Lara leaps into his arms to save him from Farhad’s gunshot. In this way, the invisible impenetrable cloak represents familial strength and the power of believing in magic.
Doors (motif)
Doors are a repeated image throughout the film. Doors represent the barriers that each character faces in their lives. Additionally, doors indicate the isolation that separates one character from another. Further, doors represent safety and security. Each character is able to hide behind their doors, and they must confront their fears by venturing outside. Doors can also represent future opportunities—as one closes, another one opens. Daniel’s work as a locksmith—one whose job is precisely to make doors secure—prompts both Farhad and Jean to face their shared fear of the outside world. In this regard, Daniel becomes a scapegoat for both Farhad and Jean’s insecurities. This terror manifests in racial bigotry.
Guns (symbol and motif)
Guns represent a material, immediate form of power. Many characters seem to think that a gun will protect them in case of problems and conflicts. However, they often end up hiding behind their guns—they are unable to confront feelings such as fear or discomfort and instead use guns to resort to aggression. Throughout the film, the police authorities use guns in order to feel safe and exert control over situations. In reality, these characters are often close to the edge, and the gun, rather than protecting them, simply magnifies the consequences of their poor decisions. Farhad nearly kills Lara with his gun, and Hansen murders the innocent Peter by gunshot. In these examples, both shooters fail to reflect upon their genuine emotions or their circumstances. Instead, they use their guns to avoid having to deal with the situation.
