Gran Torino: The Story of an Old Man

625 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of intercultural communications

An American drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood which has gained recognition worldwide particularly because of Clintwood’s appealing directing style. It was recognized by the American Drama Institute as one of the “Ten Best Films of 2008”(Gran Torino, 2013) and debutedthe writer, Nick Schenk. Clint Eastwood demonstrates, through Mr. Walt, that if your past negatively affects your life and the way you see things, then its best to let go of it and start a new beginning. An intense film told with great humor, Gran Torino is a cinematic masterpiece. This film succeeds in its development in portraying the negative aspects involving multicultural communications and the bond formed by people from two extremely different generations.
Walt is an arrogant racist Korean War veteran with his prized possession, a Gran Torino.In the beginning in his wife’s funeralit can be seen that the relationship between him and his children was weak.They later wanted to send him to an old age home, which he thought was ridiculous. He hates the fact that the neighborhood was filled with Hmong people. The state worsens when Thao (Bee Wong) his young Hmong neighbor falls into the wrong company of his cousin and tries to purloin the Torino. But things start to change whenWalt mistakenly saves Thao’s lifewhile the gang was forcefully taking him away to do unacceptable things that he had rejected to,after realizing that stealingWalt’s car was just wrong.Walt wanted them off his lawn andhad no intensions of saving anyone’s life.Sue (Ahney Her), Thaos sister, is a wise young girl and tries to converse with him but the guilt of the Korean Warpulls him aback. It gets better when he progressively overcomes this guilt by giving Sue a chance to introduce...

... middle of paper ...

...and discipline, whichhelped strengthen their bond.
People like Walt still exist. They might not be able to open up and end up being isolated. It becomes our responsibility to be like Sue and Thao and make their life bearable. Help them forget the traumatic scenes of war, be open-minded and help them realize that having a multicultural neighborhood decreases stereotyping and racism.After all, they are soldiers and the guilt of killing people always haunts them.

Works Cited

Eastwood, C., (Director), Lorenz, R., Gerber, B., (Producers), Schenk, N.(Writer),. (2008). Gran Torino[Motion Pictures]. United States: Village Roadshow Pictures.

Schenk, N. (writer), Eastwood, C. (Director & Producer).(2008). Gran Torino [Motion Picture]. United States: Warner Bros.

Gran Torino. (2013, November 28). Retrieved November 29, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Torino

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of "The Thematic Paradigm"

    1403 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... on, Walt learns about the Hmong culture, and eventually he establishes a grumpy fatherly connection with Thao. Walt develops a relationship with the Vang Lor family and stops the Hmong gang from raping Thao’s sister. Although, Walt is dying from lung cancer, the gang kills him. Walt leaves behind all his inheritance to the Vang Lor family, and most importantly, Thao inherited the prized 1972 Gran Torino.

    Read More

  • O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Modern Adaptation of Homer's Odyssey

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    O Brother, Where Art Thou? Dir. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. Perf. George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro. Studio Canal, Working Title Films, 2000. DVD.

    Read More

  • The Manchurian Candidate by Johnathan Demme

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Manchurian Candidate. Dir. Johnathan Demme. By Richard Condon. Screenplay by George Axelrod, Daniel Pyne, and Dean Georgaris. Perf. Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, Meryl Streep, Kimberly Elise. Paramount, 2004.

    Read More

  • Chris Mccandless In Jon Krakauer's 'Into The Wild'

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    "How is it," he [Walt] wonders aloud as he gazes blankly across Chesapeake Bay, "that a kid with so much compassion could cause his parents so much pain?” (Krakauer 104). The worst part is that Walt and Billie never got the chance to reconcile with their son. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for the McCandless family to move on. Regardless, they must find a way to cope with Chris’s death. Otherwise, they will not be able to survive. Krakauer adopts a more serious but pitiful tone as he talks about Chris’s childhood. Sadly, Chris’s childhood was not easy. Walt and Billie were always working. “In addition to the financial strain of exchanging a steady paycheck for the vagaries of self-employment, Walt's separation from his first wife left him with two families to support” (Krakauer 107). The fact that Chris was able to get along with at least two of his family members reassures the readers that Chris’s early years were somewhat enjoyable. These two people were Billie’s father, Loren Johnson, and Carnie McCandless. Loren was just as stubborn and dreamy as Chris, causing Chris to adore his grandfather. Carine and Chris were always close. “They'd been best friends from an early age, spending hours together building forts out of cushions and blankets in their Annandale living room” (Krakauer 110). Carine understood Chris the best because she also had to endure a tough childhood. Walt took Chris to his first overnight backpacking trip when he was eight years old. Chris was able to make the summit. In doing so, I believe that this is what made Chris feel that he can accomplish anything, as long as he sets his mind to it. At this point, Krakauer’s tone sounds admirable of Chris. This tone continues when Krakauer talks about Chris’s talents in running. Chris was also understanding and accepting. It did not matter to him that one of his

    Read More

  • Film Analysis: The Shining

    2366 Words  | 5 Pages

    1980. Warner Bros. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Music by Wendy Carlos and Rcachel Elkind. Cinematography by John Alcott. Editing by Ray Lovejoy. With Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd.

    Read More

  • Who Is Chris Mccandless In Into The Wild

    1730 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, it is obvious that much of his motivation to pursue the journey stemmed from the resentment he harbored towards his parents. He despised their materialistic lifestyle and how they would often try to force it onto him. In an interview with Walt McCandless, Krakauer writes, “Seven weeks after the body of his son turned up in Alaska wrapped in a blue sleeping bag that Billie had sewn for Chris from a kit, Walt studies a sailboat scudding beneath the window of his waterfront townhouse. ‘How is it,’ he wonders aloud as he gazes blankly across Chesapeake Bay, ‘that a kid with so much compassion could cause his parents so much pain?’” (Krakauer 103-104). This quote is representative of the gaping hole at the center of McCandless’ story. From his research on the boy, Krakauer learned from the people in McCandless’ life is that they saw him as a deeply compassionate person. Also, that his disgust directed towards how lavishly and selfishly Americans lived was a fuel for his two-year journey. However, Krakauer also uncovered McCandless’ deep self-involvement and selfishness incorporated in his risky behavior, greatly hurt his loved ones, especially his family. Cutting his parents out of his life was not only a side effect of his journey but an aim, and the resentment he held towards his family always held him back when it came to true intimacy between himself and the

    Read More

  • Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards

    1187 Words  | 3 Pages

    Inglourious Bastards. Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Perf. Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz. The Weinstein Company, 2009. DVD.

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Film Good Will Hunting

    2142 Words  | 5 Pages

    Van Sant, G. and Bender, L. (1997). Good Will Hunting. New York City: Miramax Films.

    Read More

  • Grand Torino Character Analysis

    183 Words  | 1 Pages

    The use of setting and location in Grand Torino plays a key role in the development of Walt and Thao’s friendship. Due to the age difference and dissimilar lifestyles, normally these two characters would never come into contact. Walt (Walter Kowalski), is an elderly white male who takes much pride in his American culture and is under the emotional burden of his wife’s recent passing. Thao is a young Hmong boy who is very quiet in nature their encounter only occurs because they are both living in a multicultural neighbourhood that is riddled with crime and gang culture. The local Hmong gang is attempting to recruit Thao by kidnapping him but in the process they step onto Walt’s lawn. This in turn provokes Walt to interrupt the kidnapping with

    Read More

  • The Influence Of New Hollywood Cinema

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is no doubt that Martin Scorsese has heavily influenced the emulating of American film making from European influences. He is a prime example of a ‘New Hollywood Cinema’ director, not only from his ethnicity and background, but from his sheer interest in this form

    Read More

  • The Godfather Film Analysis Essay

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Godfather is most notably one of the most prolific films of its time. This "gangster" film displayed many transformations of permeating color to give the viewer observable cues in its mise en scene that drew one right into the movie. The dramatic acting set the tone of the film with a score that lifted the viewer right out of their seat in many scenes. The directing and cinematography made The Godfather ahead of its time. The nostalgic feel of family importance and the danger of revenge lets us into the life of the Mafia. Even though no other techniques would have given the viewer a feeling of inside the mob like the mise en scene of the power the godfather held, the characters are reinforced literally and figuratively because the story views the Mafia from the inside out, and the cinematography of the film gives it a dangerous and nostalgic feel.

    Read More

  • Wally

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elmer, “Walt” was a friend I knew when I lived in California. Despite being a throwback from the 1960’s and a reject from society’s public eye, Walt still lived with a smile on his face and a story in his heart. Walt loved to tell stories and he loved the place where he told them. Walt also loved to drink and toward the end of an evening the bottle had met his lips way too many times. Old hippy ways faded to history for everyone else but Walt.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Family Relationships In Gran Torino

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gran Torino is a suspense film directed by Clint Eastwood, which portrays the relationship between a 78-year-old Koran war veteran and his neighbors who are from Laos. The main character, Walt is a racist who still has memories from the horrors of war and has a dislike for anyone, including his own family. After his young neighbor Thao is coerced by his cousin’s gang into stealing Walt’s prized Gran Torino, a unusual relationship forms between the pair. Walt starts to respect Thao and his culture while fulfilling a fatherly role that Thao is lacking. Eventually, Walt has to confront the gang knowing that the confrontation will end in his death. Apart from the stereotypical, get off my lawn quote, this film depicts the relationship of family concerning the care for older adults, the struggle with despair and meaning later in life, and the morality of a good death. This paper will address each of these themes.

    Read More

  • Psychological Concepts in the Film Gran Torino

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    Clint Eastwood’s film “Gran Torino” traces the end of the life of Walt Kowalski. He has recently gone through a lot – the death of his beloved wife, his distant relationship with his son, his emotional scars from the Korean War and his bad health. All these things stop him from living a proper life. He doesn’t care about himself much – he smokes even though he is sick, he doesn’t eat a lot, he refuses to confess even though that was his wife’s last wish. However, all this changes when he meets the Hmong Family that lives next door. At the beginning he detests them because of their similarity to the Koreans, but later, as he gets to know them, they become the family that he was never able to have. The story traces the psychological changes in Walt’s character due to his unusual bond with the Hmong family, which changes are one of the main strengths of the film.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Oppression

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although Walter has no obligation, he takes Tarek and Zainab into his home. Walter display empathy toward the couple. As he gets to know Tarek, Walter takes on a sense of responsibility for him. In a sense, Walter's exposure to oppression begins through association with Tarek and Zainab. He learns of the marginalization being an immigrant in the U.S. Walter feels guilty of the white privilege he perpetuates in his

    Read More

More about Gran Torino: The Story of an Old Man

Open Document