The surface story is .. 'A downtrodden photographer, haunted by the urban violence and decay around him, retreats into an inner world of dark fantasies.' But that is just the marketing phrase to get the attention of the public.
This marvelous film is just chock full of symbolism, and what gave me the lead is the setting - Detroit! Detroit - a once vibrant and wealthy industrial city now suffering under corporate self imposed decay and debt - Detroit still has wealth but the shine is soiled by the blight within it - Detroit is America today.
Aiden - the photographer - symbolizes government or the people in America. We know right from wrong, we are a nice people at heart, just as Aiden is. But America fantasizes so often of being 'the avenger of the wronged and oppressed' and when we take action we so often get it all wrong and then do not understand why others in the world don't trust us.
Virginia - the girl next door - she symbolizes the American psychological take on our friends, our allies. There is more to her than Aiden is willing to see (or unable to see) and doesn't understand her reaction when he inappropriately reacts to a situation. Even though America has many allies they are often put off by our inappropriate response to an international event.
Pete - the policeman - symbolizes what Americans know about themselves and others! We can feed the good wolf or the bad wolf. Pete is the collective conscientiousness of the often indecisiveness of America, - when America knows which decision is rightful.
Barry - the rich corporate business man - symbolizes the corporations and politicians (or politics) in America. It's only concern is for itself and when they are caught cheating, as happened to Barry, they can buy their freedom and are never held responsible for their degrading actions to the working class (the girl in the cheap motel).
Ravi - the boyfriend of Virginia - he represents the people America has wronged by assault and war. Then we come running to help, as Aiden did to Ravi after shooting him, only to discover it's too late.
'Crave' is a two hour movie, but I was fascinated by Aiden and never knowing which way he will turn before he finds the gun. After the gun he feels empowered but it just makes his life worse. Even though Aiden is not caught for his crimes his mental world will continue to torture him. America is Aiden, we haven't been punished for our crimes either!
