DECATUR - City leaders got a crash course in diversity on Thursday.

Council members Betsy Stockard and Shad Edwards joined nearly 250 city employees at Skip Huston's Avon Theatre to watch the movie "Crash" as part of the city's ongoing diversity training programs.

The film takes a "provocative, unflinching look at the complexities of racial tolerance in contemporary America," according to the official movie Web site. Interwoven stories about characters of different racial backgrounds collide over a turbulent day-and-a-half in Los Angeles.

"Crash" pulled a huge Oscar upset Sunday, winning the best picture award over "Brokeback Mountain," the presumed favorite.

City Manager Steve Garman, an avid film fan, thought "Crash" was the best film of the year.

"When I first saw it, it struck me automatically what a great training tool it would be," Garman said. "It's an entertaining way of teaching something that typically isn't entertaining to be taught.

"Tolerance and prejudging is what diversity training is all about. This draws the audience into those very issues. You find yourself making the same mistakes they're making, thinking what they're thinking. That's why at the end of it, there's such a huge emotional impact."

Stockard agreed that the movie is a valuable diversity training tool.

"It's only as valuable as we make it," Stockard said. "If we walk out the door and go back to the same old, same old, then it was just something for us to watch.

"But if you have a prejudice and stereotype people, and this movie caused you to think about that, and you truly try to change that, then it was valuable."

Edwards said the movie was the most entertaining diversity training session he ever attended.

Edwards, an Illinois State Police sergeant, agreed that the movie could cause viewers to reflect on stereotypes and prejudices. But the film also can reinforce false stereotypes of law enforcement officers, Edwards said.

"There are some good parts to it," Edwards said. "But I don't think any police officer is going to be thrilled about the portrayal of them in that movie."

City employees are required to attend an initial four-hour diversity training class and a two-hour refresher course every three years. Viewing the movie works toward fulfilling diversity training requirements.

FamilyMediaGuide.com found "Crash" to be the most profane of this year's 2006 Academy Award nominees for best picture, with 182 expletives uttered.

Garman advised city employees in a memo that viewing of the film is "completely voluntary" because it is rated "R" and contains "limited sexual sequences, some violence and rough language."

After the film, city employees joined in a discussion of the movie's themes led by Huston and Annemarie Mudd, special events coordinator for Ripper Entertainment.

"It's a groundbreaking program," Huston said.

Huston said the film offers a thought-provoking exploration of diversity.

"The bottom line for this film, and it hammers this point home really well, is don't judge a book by its cover," Huston said. "That's a basic lesson we all should have learned from our parents that we all seem to be still learning.

"Prejudice is everywhere; bigotry is everywhere. Once we recognize the problem, that's the first step to solving the problem."

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.