A movie about friendship and cultural differences

A couple of weeks ago my international English class watched the movie Gran Torino, but because of my absence I didn’t see it before this weekend. Gran Torino is a drama film from 2008 and is directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood is a very well known director, actor, producer and composer. He has received many awards, for instance five academy awards and five global awards. In the movie Gran Torino he plays the main character, Walt Kowalski. Walt Kowalski a polish –american old, bitter and depressed  widowed Korean War veteran. His neighborhood in Michigan has changed the past years. From being a “white” working-class  neighbourhood   it has become a violent place with mostly immigrants. Walt Wowalski lives with his Labrador, Daisy. He used to fight the war in Korea, but now he has begun fighting a new war, this time a war trying to keep is neighborhood safe.

In the beginning of the movie I get the impression the Walt Wowalski is a cranky old and miserable man. However this changes when you come further in the movie. Walt gets to know the neighbor family and he develops a relationship to Sue and her brother Thao. Further in the movie Walt gets attached to this family and we see what is hiding behind his bitter facade.  In the movie we meet issues tackling cultural differences and the challenges that follow in addition getting to know friendship. Walt means that there is no hope for the young generation because of their lack of respect, however Sue anf Thao proves him wrong.

The conflict in the movie begins with Thao being beaten up because he failed stealing Walt’s beloved Gran Torino. Theo wants nothing to do with this gang, and that makes the members determined to harass Thao, until he joins the gang. There is a drive-by-shoot episode which leads to Sue being raped and beaten up. After this episode everyone is determined that this gang is capable of doing the worst thinkable thing, and therefore Thao now want to stop the gang, and get his revenge. Thao seeks advise from Walt, but Walt tricks him, and locks him in the basement, wanting to avoid a young boy as Thao doing something he will regret.

The movie ends with Walt getting killed outside the gang’s house, unarmed. The gang members were all arrested and due to many witnesses, they won’t be released for a long time.  

I definitely liked this movie and strongly recommend it to everyone. It brings up themes that most certainly are relevant in many societies today in a captivating and emotional way. In my eyes Clint Eastwood acts in a very powerful and good way, and I personally admire him for his work.  

Link to picture here, and trailer to see trailer to the movie click here :)

Love from Susanna