The controversy reached a peak when the film received an award at the Cannes Film Festival, only to be met with boos from those who had watched it there.
David Cronenberg himself has even stated that Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary director behind The Godfather, played a role in preventing the film from winning the prestigious Palme d’Or.
In the UK, The Daily Mail, a newspaper known for its conservative stance, launched a campaign to have the film banned entirely.
However, the Westminster Council decided to override this decision, banning the film from being shown in certain parts of London.
Similar actions were taken by theater managers in Ohio and Norway, who refused to screen the film, citing their disgust with its content as the reason.
So, what is it about this film that caused such strong reactions?
The movie in question is “Crash,” which delves into the lives of a married couple in an open relationship, disillusioned with their sexual experiences.
This leads them to a group of individuals with a similar, unconventional fascination.
A warning for those sensitive to graphic content: one of the film’s most shocking scenes depicts a man engaging in sexual activity with a woman’s leg scar, an injury she obtained in a car accident.
The film’s climax even suggests that the ultimate desire of these thrill-seekers is to perish in a car crash, highlighting the extremity of their fetish.
Roger Ebert, a renowned film critic at the time, described “Crash” as “challenging, courageous, and original,” calling it a “strange and insightful dissection of the mechanics of pornography.”
“Crash” undeniably sparked widespread debate, leaving audiences divided between fascination and revulsion.
For those curious to see what caused such a stir, “Crash” is available for streaming on Apple TV in the US, offering a chance to form your own opinion on this controversial piece of cinema history.
