Gran Torino Film Review Essay Example

Grand Torino was a film released in December 2008. The film was directed, produced, and starred by Clint Eastwood. "Nick Schenk's screenplay wasn't written specifically for him, but after seeing the film it's impossible to imagine it with anyone else." (Charity) Schenk became acquainted with the history and the culture of the Hmong in the 90's working in a Minnesota factory. In addition, Schenk learned how the Hmong had sided with the South Vietnamese forces and their U.S allies during the Vietnam war, only to wind up in refugee camps at the mercy of the northern communist forces when American troops pulled out. Years later Schenk decided he wanted to develop a story involving a widowed Korean war veteran trying to handle the changes in his neighborhood when he decided to place a Hmong family next door creating a culture clash; where he ran into problems was how to develop such a story. Needless to say Schenk eventually created a masterpiece with Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski Bee Vang as Thao Vang Lor, a young Hmong teenager Ahney Her as Sue Lor, Thao's older sister Christopher Carley as Father Janovich. Do we approve of the racial slurs used in the film? No. Do we find it funny that a man would be so politically incorrect in social situations? Yes. But, instinctively we also know that the film's not approving of his racism, either. You know as you watch the film that the story will be about breaking barriers. You know that the main character, Walt Kowalski, will come to accept his neighbors and even fight for them, which is inspiring. But through the act of making this unsympathetic racist the protagonist, we’re shown that there are more sides to him than his racism. We also find value in seeing how people react to his racism, how they refuse to cry over his insults, but stand up to him and prove their worth. Which give the viewer something much deeper to think about. Grand Torino Stars Clint Eastwood as a retired American Ford factory worker and Korean War