Car crashes happen unexpectedly, and they can have a devastating impact on victims, turning their entire lives upside down. They say that when someone is dying, their whole life passes before their eyes in just an instant, which is also true when experiencing such a traumatizing event as a car accident. Many movies are centred around the theme of car crashes, serving as a reminder of the fragility of life and how an unforeseen circumstance can completely alter your path in life.
But besides that, they can be a turning point that enables the exploration of important themes like destiny, redemption, mourning, and new beginnings. They reflect moral dilemmas and the unpredictable nature of life. In this blog, we explore 4 films that use car crashes as powerful metaphors for change and resilience, offering insightful perspectives for audiences.
Before I fall
The film “Before I fall” is an adaptation of Lauren’s Oliver’s novel of the same name, and opens with Samantha Kingston, the main character of the story, waking up on Friday, February 12, and beginning her day as she normally does. She wakes up, gets driven to school by Lindsay, her best friend, goes to class, and then goes to a party later that night. She is a typical popular mean girl who lives in joyous monotony, but everything changes when at the end of that night, Sam gets involved in a car accident while driving home with her friends. After the car crash, she begins to live the same day over and over again.
Throughout the movie, she embarks on a journey to existential enlightenment as she tries to find out what she can do to change the course of the events and stop the accident. However, she comes to realize that she can’t change the outcome of her own death, but she can choose to act as lovingly and kindly as possible within the confines of the unavoidable fate. In this movie, the car crash becomes a catalyst for change in Samantha’s life, as it forces her to question who she is as a person and what really matters in life.
If I stay
“If I stay” is a teen romantic drama film based on Gayle Forman’s novel of the same name, and it follows Mia Hall as she is caught between life and death after a car accident that kills her entire family and puts her in a coma. Before the accident that changes the course of her whole life, Mia has a perfect life: she has a cello audition for Julliard, dates Adam, who is a popular guitarist, and her family supports her.
However, the car accident forces Mia into an out-of-the-body experience, requiring her to decide whether she wants to stay or go. Therefore, the accident becomes a gateway to existential choice about grief, identity, and the will to live after an unbearable tragedy hits you. The crash depicted in the movie invites the audience to reflect on the idea that life can change in a moment and that you are never prepared for such a loss, at the same time showing that there are things to hold onto even during such moments.
The in-between
The in-between movie, starring Kyle Allen and Joey King, may seem like just another romance story, but it’s about more than that. It explores the loss of a loved one and dealing with grief in the aftermath of a car accident where only one person survives. Unfortunately, such tragedies are a common occurrence in the real world, too. The aftermath of a car crash can weigh significantly on victims, both from an emotional and legal perspective. Personal injury lawyers can offer victims the support they need during these challenging times and help them understand their legal rights. You can read more on what victims can do in the aftermath of a car crash at https://www.how-to-sue.co.uk.
The in-between movie depicts how it can be really challenging to continue living as you feel broken-hearted after losing someone dear to you. Thankfully, Tessa, the female character of the story, who survives the car crash, has a strong support system that helps her navigate this challenging time in their life, demonstrating the importance of having someone by your side when things get unbearably hard. By the end of the movie, Tessa continues living her life, and pursuing her dream, and although she is no longer together with her loved one, she succeeds in giving their story a happy ending by simply making the most of her life.
The pursuit of happyness
The movie is based on Chris Gardner’s story, a man who loses everything he has but continues to persevere and eventually finds happiness in life and accomplishes his goals. Chris is a loving and hard-working father, but he faces financial difficulties when it comes to providing for his wife and son. At some point in the movie, Chris gets hit by a car, which represents a turning point and not just a literal accident.
At that moment, the character already faces major struggles, as his relationship is deteriorating and he’s trying hard to make ends meet. Symbolically, the car accident represents the loss of control Chris is dealing with in his life, as he is facing numerous hardships that are weighing on him. However, despite these hardships, Chris continues to move forward anyway and eventually succeeds.
Conclusion
Watching a car crash movie can raise awareness about road safety, encouraging the audience to avoid risky driving behaviours that could lead to lasting physical and emotional consequences, but at the same time, they can teach audiences other valuable things, as they serve as powerful narratives to explore deeper experiences such as the fragility of life, emotional catharsis, loss of control, and much more. A car crash is rarely an accident in a movie -it becomes a mirror for deeper truths about transformation and vulnerability.
All the movies mentioned in this article involve car crashes as a way to explore a deeper theme, inviting audiences to reflect on the unpredictability and meaning of life and reconsider their own choices and paths.