Gran Torino

by Robbo

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Posted on 19 May 2021

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Rating -

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.

The film features a large Hmong American cast, as well as one of Eastwood’s younger sons, Scott with Eastwood’s oldest son, Kyle, provided the score.

Set in Highland Park, Michigan, it is the first mainstream American film to feature Hmong Americans. Many Lao Hmong war refugees resettled in the U.S. following the communist takeover of Laos in 1975.

The story follows Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran alienated from his family and angry at the world.

Walt’s young neighbour, 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 and subsequently develops a relationship with the boy and his family, eventually coming to the conclusion that he has more in common with them than his own family.

Gran Torino is perhaps a minor entry in Clint Eastwood’s body of work, but is a really good film and even at 78 Clint manages to be menacing, with a verbal rather than visible toughness.

Gran Torino is a parable of modern America. A recently widowed man alienated from his spoiled family, initially resistant to the Asian Americans moving into the neighbourhood, then gradually warming to them, realising that he has more in common with them than his own family.

The film is well written and well acted, with many of the Hmong actors having very little experience, with an ending that is both shocking and unforeseen.

For me this film is a hidden gem in Eastwood’s vast body of work which won’t disappoint.

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