Old Men, New World, Timeless Values

Rating: 8/10 (5 June 2009)

The film's theme revolves around the question of what it means to be a man in the modern world, and (it being American) its background question is of course "where does authority ultimately come from?" Eastwood's Kowalski character, the perfect dutiful middle-class American, having put his house and his Gran Torino car into perfect shape (property + car + working for a car company + being vet = Fine Upstanding Citizen), takes on his next reno project-- his young Hmong neighbour Thao, who Kowlaski christens as "Toad" and repeatedly calls "stupid." Which, to be fair, he often is. Kowalski needs to show young Thao what it means to be a man, and he does. From the value of hard work (and the pride that comes from doing it well), standing up for one's principles, having guts, knowing when to trash talk and when to be polite, what it really means to care about family, to of course how (and when) to ask a girl out and knowing who your friends really are, Kowalski teaches Thao that masculinity is principled, compassionate and not easy.
Kowalski is a role model right until the film's final frame. ALthough the ending is a bit pat, the ride is great. From the staggeringly politically incorrect language (half the fun is waiting for what Walk can possibly say next to top his last anti-Asian outburst) to the political and moral questions, this is solid fare. The film avoids cultural stereotypes (no Hmong or immigrant demonisation here) and indeed shows us a vibrant, tough and decidedly non-stereotypical character in Thao's sister.
As a high school teacher, I use this with gr11 and 12 students, many of whom face the same pressures as Thao-- to join gangs, be violent, disrespect women, to have money without working for it-- and the film, much to what I am sure would be Eastwood's delight, gets through to them loudly and clearly. Ultimately, it teaches us an old lesson: the only things in life (and death) worth having are those we honestly work for.