Sacrifice for a Greater Cause

Rating: 9/10 (23 June 2014)

Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) depicts an old Korean War veteran, who deals with new changes invading his life. In the film "Gran Torino," which was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, Walt risks his own health to aid his neighborhood in its time of need. The family next door claims his actions were heroic when Walt helped one of their own. A shy boy named Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang) and his sister Sue Lor (Ahney Her) were in the midst of an attack from their troubled cousins. Walt heard the commotion and marched out with his rifle ridding their yard and his of their Hmong cousins. The theme of risking a human life to save the lives of many was evident in different parts of the film. Not only in the beginning stages of the film, but also in the end where Walt finally puts an end to the madness of the gangs in the neighborhood. By devising a plan to draw the gang members out of their poorly kept home, he was able to have witnesses see the gunfire shot at him in the gang's front lawn. Although the terrible cousins of Thao and Sue thought Walt was carrying weapons on him, he was just equipped with his lighter. Saving the whole neighborhood, he was left dead.
Walt Kowalski managed to get along better with his neighbors rather than his own sons and family. Thao, the Hmong kid from next door, was working for Walt and had thought of Walt now as a role model. Walt's newly loved neighbors grown to like him and he begins to notice how things are not the same around this neighborhood. Involving himself in the newly integrated neighborhood, he assists Thao and his families by first helping Thao get a job and a girlfriend, in hoping he will become the man of the house. Secondly, his goal was to soon give Thao his 1972 Gran Torino and help him and his sister stray away from their troubled cousins. I think by Walt taking Thao and his family under his wing, he carved a great future for them.
I have a great interest in people adjusting to change and helping others, such as Walt in "Gran Torino." The rewarding experiences that Walt brought this family and neighborhood are astounding. He realized his time living after the war was coming to an end. Knowing the lives of the teens and the people in the neighborhood having so much to look forward too; he set out to make an abrupt stop to the neighborhood gang. In addition, it was special to watch the process of the neighborhood changing because of Walt Kowalski.