Gran Torino

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up again in front of Thaos house but Thao and Sue verbally confront them gang tries to assault Thao but suddenly Walt steps out of his house and frightens them with his gun, gang leaves neighbours get to know about Walts heroic act and thank him with bringing lots of food to his house Thao admits to steeling his Gran Torino and is sorry for that Walt seeks to be left alone and is not pleased by the attention Mitch and his wife visit Walt on his birthday, not looking forward to it they want him to move into a retirement home but Walt knows that they only want his property, he refuses and throws them out which they can't comprehend - Walt is driving around town when he sees Sue being harassed by three black teenagers, he rescues her whilst threatening them with a Colt pistol - Sue steps into his car and is very open and tries to get to know Walt but he doesn't really allow her to Sue invites him to have a barbecue at their house with the entire family (he actually comes with her) and explains the Hmong culture and tells him that during the Korean War they were on his side Thao is being forced to to cleaning for Walt by his family because of the attempt to steal his car, so he helps him Cleaning the neighbourhood, especially the empty house across the street then he gets Thao a construction job and teaches him how to be a man (at the hairdresser) because he acts very softish, furthermore he wants him to ask out a Hmong girl because he never really had contact with a girl (at the barbecue) - - when he was at the family barbecue he notices that he coughs blood, so he visits the doctor the next day after he received the results of his examination, which indicate that his health isn't good he tries to call his son to tell him about it but he refuses to and Mitch and Karen say that they are too busy to talk to him meanwhile the Hmong gang continues to pressure Thao to join them when they find out that Thao is walking iHome alone after work they rob him and burn his face with a cigarette Walt shows up at Smokies house (second-in-command of the gang) and beats him up gang shows up a few days later and shoots up Thaos and Sues home in a drive-by, wounding Thao in the neck Walt runs to check other and hears that Sue, who has left for her aunts house, never arrived there - a few moments later another Hmong gang car drives by and drops off Sue, who was clearly beaten up and turns out she also got raped Walt gets home, very angry (bleeding knuckles) Janovich visits him and they talk very openly for the first time - the following day Thao wants to take vengeance on the Hmong gang with Walt but Walt tells him to come back later because revenge has to be planned carefully he tells Thao to come back in the afternoon and during this time Walt gets a fresh haircut, tips the hairdresser very generously and also gets a new suit - he also goes to church and confesses (he ones kissed another woman without his wife knowing and once didn't pay taxes) Thao returns to Walts house and gives him the star medal he earned in Korea during war but the Walt locks him in the basement because he doesn't want him to live with the consequences of killing someone Walt tells him about a sin that haunts him every day, he killed a young soldier who was surrendering to him then Walt leaves Daisy at Sue's house and calls her where she can find the keys to let Thao out Janovich and two police officers strand outside Smokies house because they believe a shooting is going to happen but they then leave after nothing happens - Sue arrives at Walts basement to let Thao out and they hurry off to the Hmong gangs house Walts confronts the gang outside their house for the shootout and raping of Sue neighbours come out he takes out a cigarette of his jacket and asks the gang for a lighter and then slowly reaches into his pocket before pulling his hand out quickly thinking Walt is going to shoot, the gang members gun him down a shot of him laying on the ground reveals he held his Ist Cavalry Division Zippo lighter, not a gun Thao and Sue arrive at the crime scene and the gang has been arrested for killing an unarmed man and every neighbour has seen it - Walts funeral, Hmong family are there and his own sons Walt left his house to the church, his GT to Thao and nothing to his family (grandchildren expected to get his car and money) Short summary The 2008 drama film Gran Torino, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, is the story of recently widowed Walt Kowalski, a gruft, embittered, taciturn war veteran, who -despite his racism- befriends his new Asian neighbours and develops a mentor relationship with the youngest son, Thao The Lors are Hmong people, an ethnic group originally from parts of Southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Burma, who were exiled due to their cooperation with the CIA during the Vietnam War. Walt, a former Ford factory worker, keeps a 1972 Ford Gran Torino in his garage, which Thao attempts to steal as an initiation ritual to a local gang Thao is unsuccessful and, to make amends, he starts working for Walt. Grudgingly, they form a bond Walt helps Thao get a job and develops into a father figure for the boy. Alienated from his sons, Walt does not tell them -or anyone else when he receives a serious diagnosis Meanwhile, the gang continues to threaten Thao. When they assault the boy, Walt beats up a member of the gang In retaliation, they shoot at the Lor house, injure Thao and rape his sister Sue since there are no witnesses, the police cannot arrest them When Thao turns to Walt for help, the old man makes preparations, including getting his hair cut, mowing his lawn, and going to confession He then locks Thao in his basement, tells him that he is haunted by having killed in the war, and gives him his Silver Star Medal He then leaves to confront the gang He berates them loudly, causing the neighbourhood to witness his sacrifice: he is shot in the street and dies, unarmed, thus causing the arrest of the gang Thao inherits Walt's car, the Gran Torino; Walt's house is donated to the church Walt's Development - lonely and grumpy, no close relations to others (not even his family, superficial friendships (barber, drinking buddies)) - very closed up and not looking for contact with the rest of the world arrogant, self-centered and racist, bitter, disrespectful no emotions - old fashioned and not open-minded stereotypical ,,hard men" behaviour doesn't feel comfortable in his street (mainly immigrants) TURNING POINT becoming friends with Thao and Sue - not grumpy, distant and arrogant anymore found friends in the two Hmong teenagers and is not lonely anymore => opens up shows emotions in the bathroom at the barbecue when he coughs blood and later on wants to call his son still racist but in a humorous way, more respectful selfless => gets killed to help out his friend actually becomes a role model (for Thao) helps out his friends, good-hearted, caring, strong sense of protection THINGS THAT DID NOT REALLY CHANGE he is always being haunted by his past (telling Thao that he once killed someone) which is why he lives in the past throughout the movie, can't wrap his head around actions in the past, which furthermore turned him to the emotionless, grumpy and arrogant man he was in the beginning adding on to that he is very childlike in his behaviour (shootings (=> usually younger age group like the Hmong gang)) STILL A LOT OF GROWTH Toxic masculinity was a soldier in Korean War (=> typical man thing to do; being hard on oneself, suppressing feelings, no relying on others) has guns at home traditional family expectations (wife stayed home while he worked) excessive smoking and drinking commanding tone, racism - wants Thao to show less emotions and act confident because he thinks Thao is a ,,pussy", as he is too sensitive and shy (=> rather associated with female behaviour) Ambiguity and belonging in his street live mainly immigrants which is why he doesn't feel comfortable (especially because he is very racist) doesn't feel like he fits into modern America finds more comfort in the Hmong family than his own throughout the movie he makes friends in his street and gets to know a whole new culture, he starts to open up and feel much more comfortable places where he feels more comfortable: alone on his porch with his dog, drinking beer in a bar with old ,,friends", Gran Torino, barbershop however he is never fully at ease => sacrifices his life for a friend he had known for a short amount of time => nothing that really keeps him alive (family.) - Violence - right to own guns in America => Walt is always armed Detroit is a city with a very high crime rate several shootings and beating up raping Walt spits at granddaughter Thao's Development shy, quiet, easy to push around polite, hard-working, ambitious female attributes (doing the dishes, never asking a girl out) loves and protects his family - lacks confidence, introverted TURNING POINT - still polite and a good-hearted guy becomes more and more ambitious to act like a man => construction job stands up for himself when it comes to Hmong gang and wants revenge when they raped his sister starts growing confidence (asks a girl out,) more mature keeps all the very good character traits but becomes a bit aggressive (comprehensible regarding circumstances) Ambiguity and belonging - difficulties finding his cultural belonging (Hmong but a young generation living in America) => that's probably why he wanted to join the gang, to belong somewhere contrast to (most) American teens is that he prefers reading over being on smartphone tries to fit into American society (lacks a few things to like a job or a car) inheriting Walts Gran Torino is an opportunity for him to assimilate into American society but in the end he is staring to find and shape his identity more and more (nothing irregular as he is still young) Sue - self-confident, not afraid of anything, open-minded, talkative fierce, powerful, intellectual superiority, strong minded independet optimistic - good-hearted, caring - hardly any development, because she already is a very strong and emancipated woman the rape is something that makes very clear how men still have much more power, especially over women => influences her optimism Ambiguity and belonging - can easily incorporate the Hmong culture and the American lifestyle into her life (has a white boyfriend) no problems finding her identity, seems at ease with herself Emancipation/ gender roles Walt toxic masculinity (at least in the beginning) typical traditional behaviour Sue showing that a woman can be very present too, not the stereotypical portrait of a woman very emancipated, powerful, fierce, not afraid Thao - in contrast to Walt (at least in the beginning) shy, lack of self confidence female attributes culture/ cultural conflicts 17 PFLICHTMATERIAL Film Gran Torino (2008) spendrije Apaka Gran Tarina in perfect condition past majority white conservative people new neighbourhood population mostly immigrants ce trenger property racism Wat's racist slurs, hostility towards neighbours (spitting) development away from antagonism family Walt isolated, alienated from his son Walt has conservative values preservation of the past Lors: conservative values preservation of their customs/ traditions realisation Walt realises he has more in common with Hmong culture than with his own family. Lor family- family-oriented Phong insults Walt in her native language, devem opening up hostility (spitting) tradition gender roles Walt → masculine gender stereotypes; Gran Torino symbol of masculinity Thae is pressured into joining the gang initiation ritual, attempted theft of Gran Torino Thao →not considered "man enough" role model for Phong and Vu do not speak English, remain in thei Hmong community. the role of gang culture and violence que culture Walt owns and uses guns to protect his property and to solve conflicts Gangs use guns for their criminal actions and to threaten the neighbourhood. cycle of violence: Walt beats up gang members, gang retaliates belonging breaking the cycle: Walt's sacrifice → (temporary) end of violence Thao and Sue are fluent in English. Sue adopts a western lifestyle moves back and forth between two cultures; Thao struggles to find his place in the family Tradiotional values and changing culture Walt embodies old-fashioned American values. His Gran Torino functions as a symbol It represents America's success in the auto industry, its wealth and history. Like his car, Walt is an old timer, an outdated model, a relic of a long-gone era He is an epitome of a certain type of man from his generation, defined by conservatism, patriotism, and racism For example, he expects young people to treat older people with respect, which is why he is displeased about his grandchildren behaving and dressing in a disrespectful manner at his wife's funeral He values hard work, independence, self-reliance, and self-defence. Regarding it as an emblem of masculinity, his response to violence is violence. He thinks that traditional American values are threatened by immigration and foreign influence on the culture an economy. For instance, he is critical of his son's preference for Toyota since it is a Japanese make of car He also regards the influx of immigrants in the area with great suspicion and resentment. He used to live next to people with the same ethnic and cultural background; now he is almost the only white American left in the area His new neighbours, the Lors, are Hmong people, an ethnic minority of Asian origin He treats them with extreme hostility. He is moreover upset that his neighbourhood has become increasingly rundown, which clashes with his values. He has a sense of duty to keep his property well-maintained His focus on keeping things in order can also be seen as a statement, not only against the state of the neighbourhood but also in favour of conservatism Walt seems to defend his house, like a fortress, against the changing culture and thereby the present and future. In the course of the movie, Walt gradually opens up and learns about Hmong culture and customs. For example, he learns that Hmong do not want to be touched on the head out of respect for the soul and that they grin to express embarrassment or insecurity. He also loves their food and feels welcome in the Lor family. Gender-related conflicts Walt conforms to masculine stereotypes. His notion of how a man should behave and talk - defending himself and others using force, talking "like a man", including using insults and racial slurs - defines him It also infuences Thao whose role model Walt becomes. Thao and Sue's mother and grandmother believe in similarly clear-cut gender roles: men need to be the head of the household, they need to be strong and protective, and show no ,,female" characterisrics, such as shyness and sensitivity. Thao's masculinity is repeated questioned, by his family, by the gang members, as well as by Walt. He is reqularly insulted on account of not being "man enough" When Walt takes Thao under his wing, his principal lesson is how to ,,man up" Sue, in contrast, has many qualities that her family and Walt consider male, such as confidence and assertiveness. To a degree, both children redefine gender roles. Family and belonging Walt is estranged from his two grown sons and their families. He is disappointed in his sons and his grandchildren's behaviour and attitude. He feels misunderstood and disrespected On the other hand, he is unwilling and unable to try and improve their relationship. He is rude and hostile and cannot properly express his feelings. Like Walt, Thao deliberately isolates himself from his family. In the beginning of the movie, they both lack a sense of belonging and the ability to communicate their emotions. They both struggle to fit in in the course of the story, Thao and Walt build a father-son relationship. They open up to each other and both eventually find purpose and a sense of belonging Thao and Sue's mother do not speak English but their native language. They are prejudiced against Americans and American culture and do not seek integration, instead they feel they belong with their own ethnic group. Sue has adopted a western lifestyle and seems well-integrated into American society. For her, it is easy to move back and forth between the two cultures, experiencing a sense of belonging to both Despite his initial prejudice, Walt learns that the Lor family's values are much closer to his own than his sons! Like him, they value tradition, show respect to older members of the family, have similar conservative notions of gender, and appreciate coming together to eat and drink. Walt realises that he has more in common with Thao and Sue's family and Hmong culture than with his own family Critiscm: Racist slurs and the white saviour" trope Racist slurs are a part of Walt's everyday language. While his involvement in the Korean War may be an explanation for this, it should not be used as an excuse. His racism remains problematic and his language must be seen as very critical, especially as Anti-Asian racism persists and has been an issue in American history since the first Chinese migrants arrived in the US in the 1850s. During the Covid-19 pandemic hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased significantly. Walt's racist language may be compared to Donald Trump's use of the term "China Virus", which fuelled anti-Asian xenophobia and racism In the movie, Walt gradually opens up and tries to get to know a different culture and becomes a better person because he learns that his assumptions are wrong and thus he overcomes stereotypes and prejudices. The film is clearly intended as a statement against racism However, some aspects of it have come into criticism, for example the use of racist slurs as comic elements in the scenes and the use of what has been termed "white saviour" trope, a narrative in which a white hero rescues non-white characters. The role of gang culture and violence The film takes place in Detroit where youth violence is rife. Causes are economic and social issues: teenagers lack prospects and opportunities, education levels are low, and unemployment rates are high Particularly young people with difficult family backgrounds search for a sense of belonging and easily fall prey to gangs that offer surrogate structures In the movie, there are three rivalling neighbourhood gangs: The Latino/ Mexican gang, the African-American gang and the Hmong gang. They control the neighbourhood, intimidate rivals, and instil fear into the residents. Walt's repeated intervention when the Lor children are threatened, always leads to retaliation His response to violence is violence, just as the gang's. For a long time, he fails to see that this is a vicious circle. He has never learned to de-escalate conflicts. Eventually, however, he understands that his actions never solve any problems but in fact make them worse. To break the cycle of violence, he provokes the gang members into shooting him, so that they face arrest and the Lor family without their threat Richard III - William Shakespeare (1593) Elizabeth Queen, widow married to Edward 4 King; brother father of Edward & Richard Princes; nephewes; ghosts confer kingship on Lady Anne *Widow: wife: goast woos, then destroys weakens destroys Richmond Becomes Henry 7 Margaret Queen, widow: Lancastrian enemy/ avenger kills in Battle of Bosworth Richard Duke of Gloucester: becomes the Yorkist King Richard 3: defeated by Lancastrian forces Curses stepfather to threatens Derby (Lord Stanly) Survior Duchess of York * Widow; mother curses destroys helps destroys grieves for son Clarence Brother: ghost Hastings Lord: friend: ghost Buckingham Duke, cousin: ghost