New poster Maria shared her personal perspective on “Gran Torino” – her thoughts made me wanna watch the movie all over again.
Clint East wood’s “Gran Torino” is a great example of the older generation dying out into the new. His protagonist Walt Kowalski reminds me of my grandfather and the bigoted views of a generation with less understanding of others than what we strive for now. Aside from the racial slurs, what people fail to examine, in my opinion, is that his obscenities are directed towards the actions of the youth, the “old fashion” idea of being a hard working responsible citizen in society and those who veer from the traditional “American Way.”
Kowalski’s disapproval of his own family is apparent in this film at the funeral (aside from their actions the fact that they don’t drive American made vehicles, in Michigan no less, drives him nuts!), when his son calls with a hidden agenda and when he later visits him for his birthday (with a hidden agenda). The story focuses on human growth and the basic quality of human compassion and misconceptions.
Walt Kowalski is lost after his wife dies and his only companion is his dog, Daisy, who appears to be an old girl, too. The two young neighbors Su and Tao (sorry if the spelling is off), can be seen as counterparts to his grandchildren who are not close to him. In my personal experience, people of culture, whatever their ethnicity, respect their elders and care for them—assisted living or convalescent homes are never an option.
Elders are revered and treated with much respect and are cared for willingly. You see this example with Su and how on his birthday, invites Walt over to eat, because she sees him alone. Su shares her hospitality to their home and culture and even educates him in the misunderstood knowledge of their cultural history in the United States.
I also felt a little sorry for Walt’s character because he was a Korean war veteran trained to kill and spent three years programmed to hate the enemy who in his experience resembled his established neighbors where he is considered the minority.
“Gran Torino” is very much Oscar worthy because of what you take home with you after seeing once, twice, or even thrice as has been my case. I think I miss my grandfather more than I consciously admit—not for his foul mouth racial expletives, but because he was always willing to help someone out and had friends of all colors.
Above all, he respected those who respected others and carried law abiding values (he was a Chevy man and hated when I opted for a Kia as my first car). I am Hispanic and my grandfather was a third generation Tejano (his family was born in Texas when it still belonged to Mexico) and I admit was somewhat bigoted in his ways. This is a character I am familiar with and understand where the head and heart may be.
Not sure why this movie has been shunned, and Mr. Eastwood may not have an opinion on it; but I say that I choose not to watch the Oscars this go around, and an award nomination does not always mean a movie is not worthy of it.
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