The opening of the movie is from a fu
neral, where a young priest is having a memorial speech for a woman. After few minutes, we understand that this woman was the wife of the main character, Mr. Walt Kowalski. He is an old vet from the Korean War who lives alone in his house together with his dog, Daisy. In this first event, the funeral, we are introduced to Walt's family, his two sons, the wife and children of one of these. But more importantly, we are introduced to Walt's neighbors. The family living next door consists of a grand-mother, a mother and her two children, Sue and Thao. Their ethnicity is Hmong, from the western Asia.The main problem in the movie is these children's cousin, Spider. He is the leader of a gang which is highly criminal, and wants to recruit Thao to their gang. In order to join, they ask him to steal Mr. Kowalski's Gran Torino. However, Walt discovers him at the crime scene, and this is, remarkably as it seems, the beginning of a heartbreaking relationship. The reason is that Thao's family considers it a huge dishonor, and in order to pay back, they make Thao work for Walt. As they get to know each other, Walt grows fund of the boy who works so hard for him. When his working-hours for Walt are over, Mr. Kowalski finds Thao a job.
But things can never be just happy... The cousin of Thao and Sue are destined to make the new, happier life of Walt and the family a nightmare. One night, they drive by the house of Thao and Sue, and start shooting at the entrance. This results in Thao being shot. Anyhow, he is not seriously damaged by this. The worse it is for Sue. Her cousin beat her up and rape her, then to leave her, almost dead from the beating, on the porch of the family house.
This is in many ways a turning point in the movie. From here on, there is only one thing to do: Punish the ones responsible for this outrageous crime. Walt decides to take the matter in his own hands, and finds a way to help the family, and be at peace with himself...
Gran Torino is a movie about great friendship, reliability, and justice. In addition to that, it raises many problems that people with another ethnicity or another background can face when they come to a new country. How to learn the language and culture? It is also about the hard job it is for people to find their place in the society of the new country in which they have moved to. I thought the scenes and the composition of this movie makes it worth every penny. This is one to watch!I found the pictures at: coosacreek.org/mambo/2009/01/22/gran-torino/
and www.vanachteren.net/2010/01/10/gran-torino-clint-eastwood/
This was a very good blog post. You give a good summary of the movie, in a way that makes you want to see it. I agree that this movie is about justice and making things right. Walt starts out as a bitter old man, but in the end he cares so much about the Hmong family that he wants to help them.
ReplyDeleteI think your post is written in a very good way. You talk about Spider and Thao and I also like that you have written about the turning point in the movie. I agree with you that this is a wonderful movie :)
ReplyDeleteThis was a very good post about the movie! Very well written summary. You have a varied and great vocabulary. I agree with you; this is a wonderful movie.
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