A "sotto-vocce", anti - war manifesto

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2009)

The story is a familiar theme: The veteran of Korea because of all those bad things which took place there during the war, has hardened, generally hates the world and above all prefers the companionship of his dog to drink beers, or exchange "thicker words" with his barber.
That changes when he decides spontaneously to become the defender of his neighbors from a Vietnamese immigrant gang's threatens -though compatriots- mainly aimed at the two young children, one of which by threat, forced by his "so called" cousin to try to steal his car -brand Gran Torino- (one of the'74 Ford) which is kept and maintained by the lonely, war-veteran as a valuable heirloom - as like his star medal from the war).
The known history, a scenario somewhat naive, because some things are not documented (undisturbed gang activity). However, other issues are lightened brightly - as the consequences for those who took part in the Korean War (so followed by Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq), the immediacy of communication - even with a crude way, the main idea for people to protect property ("not press my lawn"), immigrants and their gradual assimilation and acceptance by the Americans, the evaluation of the new generation, the gap in ages, caring for neighbors and several other aspects of society - already known, but clearly pointed as first raw society themes.
But thanks to the amazing playing of Eastwood, his natural,honest and robust direction, there is a film to watch that keeps the interest of the viewer from beginning to end. The end though somewhat excessive as demonstrating Walter falling and end, to the altar of an existential, personal atonement, however, raises the question of the consequences of the war for the person who goes back home, giving through a "poetic license" to this well-achieved film, the nature of a "sotto-vocce", anti - war manifesto.