‘Crash’ Commentary

Sallie Tisdale’s commentary on David Cronenberg’s film “Crash” betrays a troubling blindness of her own about our acceptance of violence (“Just What Is the Film ‘Crash’ Driving At?,” Calendar, April 5). She chides the filmmaker for copping out by not depicting Ballard’s obsession with causing the death of Elizabeth Taylor. She revels in the description of this event. I doubt that Taylor would feel quite the same way.

Film’s power to influence people extends most especially to those with a shaky hold on reality. There is a very real danger of some such person taking the film too literally. Cronenberg apparently understands this. Tisdale clearly does not.

An icon of film she may be, but Taylor is nevertheless a vulnerable human being. Is she supposed to die horribly in order to provide someone with a good plot point?

HEAVENLY WILSON

Los Angeles