Most of my favorite independent films don't exactly have specific topics paralleled in mainstream movies, so I did some research and decided to compare "Save the Last Dance" and "Crash." Oddly enough, although "Crash" won the Oscar for Best Picture, it was an independent film. "Save the Last Dance" was distributed by Paramount Pictures. Both films deal with racial relations, and although Crash is a more serious film, I feel STLD more successfully examined the issue. I realize many will disagree, because Crash is much more dramatic and poignant, but it excessive amount of characters and plot lines make it emotionally connect. STLD is no masterpiece, but it centers around a smaller group of characters, allowing the plot to develop more. A more developed plot allows the themes to resonate more, where I found Crash slightly overwhelming.
Part of the appeal of STLD is its romantic plot line. There wasn't much room in Crash for a full fledged romance between characters, but as a mainstream film, the writers of STLD probably knew that a romance was necessary to attract viewers. With fewer characters, it's easier to understand how each individual character feels in each situation. The repercussions of the interracial relationship are given more attention in STLD than in Crash. Crash uses a creative structure to tell its story, which is common for independent films, but I don't think it was as successful as it could have been.
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