What is the significance of the Gran Torino in the movie?
This is not the case, but the car still plays a very powerful role. The vehicle is dually symbolic, being representative of Walt in one manner and of Thao in a very different one. The Gran Torino represents Walt in nearly every way, shape, and form. It is his connection to the past and to better times in his eyes.
Why does Thao inherit the Gran Torino from Walt?
At the end of the film we see that Thao inherits the Gran Torino from Walt because Walt and Thao constructed a father son relationship. Thao and Walt both benifited from the relationship because Walt was missing a son figure as Thao was missing a father figure. Because of this they bonded and got to know each other
Is Gran Torino racist?
^ Schein and Thoj, 24. ^ a b Hoffman, Kevin. " Gran Torino is racist and insensitive, says Hmong writer Archived December 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ." Citypages. Wednesday January 7, 2009.
Who stole Walt's Gran Torino in the Outsiders?
Walt's young neighbor, Thao Vang Lor, is pressured by his cousin into stealing Walt's prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino for his initiation into a gang. Walt thwarts the theft with his M1 Garand rifle and subsequently develops a relationship with the boy and his family.
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What is the message in Gran Torino?
Gran Torino has as purpose to show the meaning of a real act of sacrifice for the beloved ones that is why the movie is focused on the reality of an old man of strong character who lives in an atmosphere of racial conflict and gangs, but as the film progresses he becomes more human and transmits a message of truth ...
What does the lighter Symbolise in Gran Torino?
The director Clint Eastwood made the lighter a symbol to reveal a big part of Walt's personality. Walt has a hard time with acceptance and forgiveness. The image on the lighter is that of the first Cavalry divison. This lighter is part of Walt's identity. This symbol mirrors his masculinity.
How old is Walt in Gran Torino?
When you see Walt's hospital admittance paper, it lists his birthday as 02-10-1930 and his age as 68 years old.
What religion is Walt in Gran Torino?
Gran Torino's first scene takes place in a church, and Walt is a Catholic. But his is a reluctant faith, if it's really there at all.
Is Gran Torino a religious movie?
Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino is one of the most fascinating religious films of recent decades. Its portrayal of confession is highly ambiguous and multi-layered, as it both mocks con- fession and recognizes the enduring importance of its moral core.
Why is Walt coughing up blood?
Walt and his family return to the doctor the next week, and learn that Walt's cancer is in remission and his tumor has shrunk by 80%; the "growth" Walt spotted was simply inflamed tissue in his lung, and a resulting tear in his esophagus caused him to cough up blood, but will heal in time. Walt's family is ecstatic, ...
Is Walt Kowalski a hero?
A hero is defined as someone who is acknowledged for their courageous and selfless behavior or actions. Clint Eastwood's character Walt Kowalski, in the film Gran Torino is a stellar example of this definition of a hero. Walt was more than a decorated war hero; he helped his neighbors and community.
Was Gran Torino based on a true story?
Gran Torino is fictional but the story of the Hmong isn't "Gran Torino" is an original script and concept by screenwriter Nick Schenk, so Walt and the plot are completely fictional. However, the historical plight of the Hmong people as related by Sue (Ahney Her) to Walt is largely accurate.
How old is Clint Eastwood?
92 years (May 31, 1930)Clint Eastwood / Age
Who does Walt leave his house to in Gran Torino?
ThaoAfterward his last will and testament is read, where to the surprise of his family Walt leaves them nothing: his house goes to the church and his cherished Gran Torino goes to Thao, with the condition that Thao doesn't modify it.
Who is the white boy in Gran Torino?
Bee VangIn 2008, "Gran Torino" became the first major U.S. film to feature Hmong American actors. Among them was Bee Vang, then a 15-year-old newcomer who portrayed Thao Lor, a neighbor to Clint Eastwood's Walt Kowalski. While watching "Gran Torino," I remember feeling a chill wash over me as the movie progressed.
What does Walt tell Thao about the car?
Walt telling Thao that he can use the car to take a girl out on a date shows Thao that he has truly earned Walt’s respect and trust. Finally, at the end of the movie when Walt wills the vehicle to Thao, the Gran Torino comes to represent Walt himself. Thao will likely never be able to drive that car without thinking of Walt and everything the man did for him. The scene involving the refrigerator may be short, but it carries a lot of power in explaining the evolution of the relationship between Walt and Thao. Their initial association was forced and not welcomed by either side.
What does the Gran Torino represent?
The Gran Torino evolves in its symbolism where Thao is concerned. It starts out representing the dangerous gang lifestyle that he is about to enter into when he is asked to and attempts to steal the car. As the story proceeds and Walt and Thao begin to form a relationship, it becomes a symbol of that relationship.
What is the theme of the Gran Torino?
The first and most obvious is the Gran Torino, the car itself, representing the theme of life; the second is the refrigerator that Walt is moving out of his basement, less obvious but representative of a real turning point in the relationship between Walt and Thao, enhancing the theme of relationships; the third symbol, tying in with the theme of death, is the way Walt falls to the ground following the final confrontation with the gang. Considering it is the title of the film, one would expect the Gran Torino to play an active role in the movie.
Why did Walt die in the movie?
He was willing to die to ensure that the gang members would be arrested, therefore unable to interfere with the lives of Thao and Sue, or cause any more violence in the rest of the community. Walt sacrificed his own life so that others would have the opportunity to live on and do so peacefully. Life, relationships, and death.
How much does Walt sell Thao's fridge?
Walt offers to sell the fridge to Thao for $25 as opposed to the $60 he was planning to advertise. This is the point where it becomes evident that Walt actually views Thao as a friend.
What is the final conflict with the gang?
In the final conflict with the gang, the viewers expect to see a heroic gun battle with Walt eliminating the entire gang. Instead what they observe is Walt managing to draw the fire of all of the gang members with no intent of ever fighting back.
Can Thao drive a car without thinking of Walt?
Thao will likely never be able to drive that car without thinking of Walt and everything the man did for him. The scene involving the refrigerator may be short, but it carries a lot of power in explaining the evolution of the relationship between Walt and Thao.
Why did Thao inherit the Gran Torino?
At the end of the film we see that Thao inherits the Gran Torino from Walt because Walt and Thao constructed a father son relationship. Thao and Walt both benifited from the relationship because Walt was missing a son figure as Thao was missing a father figure. Because of this they bonded and got to know each other
Why is the lighter in paragraph 3 important?
The lighter is relavent to paragraph three because it shows us how far Walt has made it and how much he has changed. Because Walt is so protective of Van Lor family he put himself in harms way and ends up getting shot. Wehn he falls to the ground he opens up his hand and the lighter appears.
Why is the Zippo lighter in the movie?
The symbol of the zippo lighter appears throughout the film to demonstrate Walt's rank during the Korean war in which he participated in. This emblem is used to represent redemption and the burden upon Walt's mind about his previous violent life,this sticks with him throughout the film until the end when his sacrifice relieves him of that violence.
Why does the Zippo lighter go in the first body?
It would go in the first body because that is when it is first apparent to us and how it initially is used for it's ligitimitet purpose.
What happened to Thao in Vang Lor?
After he sees Thao's injuries, Walt visits the gang's house, where he attacks a gang member as a warning. In retaliation, the gang performs a drive-by shooting on the Vang Lor home, injuring Thao, and kidnapping and raping Sue.
How much did Gran Torino make?
Box office. $270 million. Gran Torino is a 2008 American drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the film. The film co-stars Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, and Ahney Her. This was Eastwood's first starring role since 2004's Million Dollar Baby.
What is the average score of Gran Torino?
Rotten Tomatoes reports that 81% of 237 surveyed critics gave the film positive write-ups; the average score is 7.10/10. The site's consensus states: "Though a minor entry in Eastwood's body of work, Gran Torino is nevertheless a humorous, touching, and intriguing old-school parable." At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average score of 72 based on 34 reviews.
Where did Nick Schenk work?
Nick Schenk said that he became friends with many Hmong coworkers while employed at a VHS factory in Bloomington, Minnesota. In regards to Schenk's stories of his interactions with the Hmong people, Laura Yuen of Minnesota Public Radio said "That sense of humor and curiosity permeate the script, even though the Gran Torino trailers make the movie look like, by all measures, a drama."
Where is Ahney Her from?
Ahney Her comes from Lansing, Michigan. The casting agency Pound & Mooney recruited thirty actors and over 500 extras. The firm recruited many Hmong actors from a Hmong soccer tournament in Macomb County, Michigan. Sandy Ci Moua, a Hmong actress based in the Twin Cities, assisted with the film's casting of Hmong actors.
When did Gran Torino come out?
Gran Torino opened in a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 12, 2008, before expanding wide on January 9, 2009. It grossed $270 million worldwide (making it Eastwood's second highest-grossing film to-date). The film received positive reviews from critics for Eastwood's direction and performance; within the Hmong community in the United States, the film was generally praised but also received criticism for its cultural inaccuracies.
How many Blu Rays were sold in 2012?
The Blu-ray version presents the film in 2.40:1 ratio format, a digital copy, and the audio in multiple languages. About 4 million DVD units have been sold as of 2012, generating $67.4 million in revenue. Another 332,000 Blu-rays were sold, for $4.9 million, bringing the total to $72.3 million in home video sales.
