A Sociological Analysis Of The Film Gran Torino
“I knew really nothing about life and death until I got to know Walt… and boy, did I learn. ” A once populated white neighborhood is being taken over by Hmong people which triggers memories of Walt’s days back in Korea. Walt Kowalski, a Korean veteran who carries racist views everywhere he goes, is the lead character in the movie Gran Torino. He recently lost his wife’s after a number of years, leaving him with two married sons with whom he doesn’t have a bond. In fact, he believes that his family consist of self-absorbed, materialistic people who he doesn’t want anything to do with.
Walt gives a look of disapproval when he sees that his granddaughter is wearing a crop top at his wife’s, Dorothy, funeral (mores). An older Hmong women and man are seen talking in their native language about her daughter needing to remarry because a woman shouldn’t be the head of a household and her grandson isn’t seen as a man. Thao, Walt’s next-door neighbor, is then seen in the kitchen washing dishes “like a woman” as they say (marginalization). Walt questions to himself why the Hmong people moved in his neighborhood, but the Hmong woman says to herself, “why he is still in the neighborhood because all of the Americans have moved?”. The movie then shifts over to Thao walking down the street reading and being harassed by a Latino gang but is stopped once his cousin Spider gang intervene. Consumed by peer pressure Thao tries to steal Kowalski’s most cherished Gran Torino (symbol) to be initiated into the Hmong gang, but is met with the face of a rifle. Furious about what happened the gang tries to attack Thao, but Walt steps in because they stumble upon his property and he runs them off making him a respected person among the Hmong people. Soon after the neighborhood showers him with gifts, but he throws them away in disgust. Surprisingly, Walt saves Sue, Thao’s sister, from being harassed by a couple of black guys, and a friendship is formed. Later on, his son Mitch and his wife Karen suggest he move into a retirement home, but he denies assuming they only want his house. Sue stops by inviting Walt to their family barbeque but Walt declines and tell her to stay away from his dog Daisy and Sue jokes back they only eat cats. At the barbeque Walt pats a little girl passing by on the head getting looks of disapproval from all Hmong people and Sue tells him that they’re very traditional people who believe that the soul resides on the head. Sue then goes on to say that looking someone in the eye is considered rude (cultural relativism).
The Shamar at the party Kor Khue reads Kowalski and tells him that in his past life he made a mistake and he’s not happy or at peace with himself (culture shock). Down in the basement Thao is all alone in the corner watching the other boys talk to Youa. Days later Vu, Thao and Sue’s mom, said that Thao dishonored their family, so he needs to work off his debt and it’ll be an insult to their tradition if Walt doesn’t accept. After paying off his debt Thao and Walt grow a bond helping him get a construction job and dating advice (positive sanction). Eventually Kowalski takes a visit to the doctor concerned about his health about coughing up blood. A couple of days after leaving work Thao is assaulted by the Hmong gang (subculture). Walt finds this out and pays a visit to Spiders gang house and attacks one of the members warning them to stay away from Thao. In retaliation the gang does a drive by grazing Thao and Sue is beaten. It is later discovered that Sue was raped and scared at the hospital. Thao goes over Walt’s house wanting revenge but is told by Walt to stay calm and to come back later in the afternoon. Meanwhile Kowalski gets some personal things done like buying a suit, getting a haircut, and finally making a confession to Father Janovich. Upon Thao’s return, Walt gives him his medal and locks him up in the basement telling him that he still has the burden of killing an enemy soldier. At night, Walt is back at the gangs’ house provoking them loud enough for the neighbors to witness what’s about to happen. After he puts his hand in his jacket and slowly pulls it out, the gang opens fire killing Walt (mores). When Sue and Thao arrived at the scene the police told them that the Hmong gang will spend the rest of their lives in jail (negative sanction). At Walt’s funeral Sue and Thao wear their traditional clothing (folkway), and at the reading of the will, the house is left to the church, and Walt’s Gran Torino is left to Thao (values).
Overall, I enjoyed the movie to a certain degree, but the ending was predictable based on the errands Kowalski ran. I personally can say that I haven’t experienced first hand any of the problems the characters in the film had. Marginalization that the United States and Gran Torino have in common would probably include being biased against other races, believing that boys should be seen a certain way, and stereotyping them. I personally believe that we can resolve these problems if we say or do something when witnessing discrimination. Be mindful of the presumptions of another people’s group or involve yourself in organizations.
