Francis Ford Coppola Hated David Cronenberg's Most Scandalous Movie: "Totally Against It"

The story of Francis Ford Coppola's response to one of David Cronenberg's most provocative movies reveals personal aesthetic differences and the eternal conflict between mainstream and avant-garde cinema.

Francis Ford Coppola Was "Against" David Cronenberg's Movie 'Crash'

In 1996, when Coppola chaired the Cannes Film Festival jury, David Cronenberg's Crash was met with strong rejection. As Cronenberg recalled:

“Coppola was totally against it. I think he was the primary one. When I'm asked why [Crash] got this Special Jury Award, well, I think it was the jury's attempt to get around the Coppola negativity because they had the power to create their own award without the president’s approval.”

Cronenberg noted that Coppola acted less than generously thereafter, reminding him every time they met: “Remember, we gave you this award.”

What Is 'Crash' About?

Film producer James Ballard experiences sexual arousal after being involved in a car accident. He meets Helen, the woman he crashed into.

She introduces him to a group of people who derive sexual pleasure from car accidents. James is drawn into this secret society and brings his wife along, with whom his relationship had long since devolved into emotionless sex.

'Crash' Has Been a Scandalous and Controversial Movie from the Very Start – and Still Is

Since its premiere, Crash has sparked a storm of criticism. Public figures called for a boycott of the film, accusing Cronenberg of romanticizing deviance.

However, Cronenberg wasn't seeking shock value for its own sake – he was asking uncomfortable questions about the nature of human desire and the limits of what's acceptable.

Unlike the sacred mystery of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, Cronenberg presents perversions as part of the drab urban landscape, making them even more disturbing.

Nearly 30 years later, Crash remains one of the boldest cinematic statements about the human body and our desires.

While Coppola created epic works about power and morality, Cronenberg delved into the dark recesses of the human psyche where technology and flesh converge in an unsettling union.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Crash'?

• Crash has 64% from critics and 61% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, Crash is scored 3.7/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Crash'?

Crash is available to stream on Mubi.