Gran Torino Theme

Rating: Null/10 (18 September 2011)

In the film Gran Torino, director Clint Eastwood tastefully examines the issue of generational and cultural prejudice. In this film, Korean War veteran and recent widower Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is forced to evaluate his own prejudices when he catches his Hmong immigrant neighbors' teenage son, Thao (Bee Vang), trying to steal his 1972 Gran Torino. Walt learns the theft attempt was a result of peer pressure by local gang members and soon becomes a protector and father figure of the shy unconfident boy and his strong-willed sister Sue (Ahney Her). Teaching Thao the meaning of hard work, one's "word" and the meaning of integrity, Walt hopes to protect him from the gang life that according to Sue is the fate of many young Hmong boys.
The theme of Gran Torino focuses on ideas of social problems specifically pertaining to generational and cultural prejudices. The courses of Walt Kowalski's life have led him to develop a prejudice against the Hmong immigrants that heavily populate the neighborhood in which he lives. As with most prejudices, Walt's prejudice against the Hmong immigrants can be argued are a result of a lack of knowledge of the culture. Sue introduces and explains their culture to Walt often sarcastically mocking his preconceived notions of the culture. Sue standing up to Walt appeals to the "tough side" of Walt and as a result Sue wins him over.
After the theft attempt by Thao of Walt's Gran Torino, Thao is saved by Walt when a neighborhood gang attacks him on the front lawn. As a result of Walt's heroism, Thao is indebted to him and his family offers his assistance to Walt. Walt reluctantly accepts Thao's assistance and soon puts him to work cleaning up the properties of elderly neighbors. This is when Walt realizes that within the shy unconfident persona of Thao lies a determined honest young man. Perhaps Walt sees a bit of himself in the young boy and this is what helps him decide to protect Thao from his own fate, to give him the opportunities he was given.
Overcoming the prejudice Walt has for the Hmong culture, he is able to relate to Sue and Thao and become a father figure for them. Perhaps Walt needs this type of relationship more that the sibling duo because through the film we can see his relationship with his own children has become estranged. The scenes of interaction between Walt and his son serve as motifs for the relationship between Walt, Sue and Thao. This film provides a tasteful insight to cultural prejudice and how with knowledge of the culture and tolerance for one another this prejudice can be overcome.