Gran Torino
Tally Ann Bringas
Intercultural Communication/COM 40164
Prof. Undraye Howard
November 23, 2011
The film provides the audience with an insight to three different worlds, one of a Korean War Veteran grief stricken by the loss of his wife and left alone in a changing world, a coming of age young Korean youth, and a struggling neighborhood attempting to hang on to its former glory.
Gran Torino is by far one of the best films I have seen in quite some time. There are multiple struggles taking place in the main character Walt Kowalski as a Korean War veteran neighborhood is being overrun my other cultures mainly Korean. He finds himself surrounded by “gooks” and as he is aging he is becoming more aware of the situation. He has his age, current health condition as well as the declining neighborhood to deal with. There are many cultural conflicts within the one movie; Walt is dealing with a completely foreign culture with his neighbors’. This was shown numerous times in the movie, but there are a few scenes that show Walt scanning the neighborhood and absorbing the changes that have taken place. The age and cultural difference with his own family is displayed in the scene when his son and daughter –in-law come to wish him a happy birthday. The come by themselves without the grandkids and bring brochures of assisted living facilities as well as some “tools” he may use to help him get around (phone with huge numbers/ top shelf grabber) these things only upset him and there is an obvious disconnect with his family and the cultural difference with the stages of his life. Finally there is the cultural conflict of the gang and Thao, this is a constant struggle as the gang assumes the right to force their way into people’s lives and had been successful prior to dealing with Walt. This is the largest main conflict as it drives the plot of the movie and depicts a lot of what continues to go on in less affluent neighborhoods and environments.
What I appreciate most about the film is the candid scene in the barbershop as well as the interview process with this young man. I find it refreshing to hear the banter (as offensive as it might seem) between the characters in the move, as in real life this is how many people communicate. The odd banter is what reminds you of the importance of intercultural communication as it relates to English and our current globalization. There are those who speak English as a second or third language and the literal sincerities are what make our communication work in situations like the barbershop are what makes American English apart. In the barber scene it is difficult for Thao to communicate and convey the same message Walt did with such ease. This is because of the cultural norms set in place of American males, they are both around the same age and class level therefore they are able to relate to each other culturally as well. When Thao attempts to use the same verbiage used by Walt it offends the Barber and he picks up a shot gun. This is only understood as they are both of the same race and class “White” and this is so difficult to understand. I can relate to this situation the most based on my time in the military and the harsh way we address each other, that others may considered rude and vaguer. This type of communication is common in much of America, but is a struggle to understand if you are not accustomed to this type of communication.
After a few days of “Training” Thao lands a job and is able to contribute to the household and avoid the street gangs. With time the situation turns heated and Walt assumes the role of father and protector of these impressionable teens. This task was difficult based on the main characters personality and rash way of communicating. The young Thao picks up quickly which shows his ability to assimilate and learn from this disgruntled old man.
I found that I related mostly to Walt as he was set in his ways, but with time and interaction was able to change his perspective and mindset. He may have done it in a harsh or less diplomatic way than most; however the effect was more powerful coming from him. In reference to Pop Culture there are the comments made by Walt and the way he addresses the neighbors in the beginning of the movie. The common things we associate these foreigners’ with are what we understand based on what we have seen and heard. Walt has a completely different perspective alone with the pop culture reference he has his views based on his interaction and history with this particular culture. Throughout the move he is attempting to understand and try and “fix” the current issues as he knows how, but ends up offending or separating himself even more. This form of isolation brings him comfort as he feels he is not losing control of the situation as well as his environment. Understanding others cultures beings about a level of uncertainty and discomfort as we are opening ourselves to the unknown. This is what he does towards the main portion of the movie and this is what makes his own transformation so powerful.
The final scene of the movie when Walt dies and they lawyer is reading is last request, I feel is the best scene in the move. It reflects Walt’s last statement about his Gran Torino, and his expectations for the condition he requested it remained. This was refreshing to see the disappointment of his granddaughter as she was never involved or present but expected to get it anyway. That is the assumption of many people with a sense of entitlement. Thao was dedicated to him and improving himself as well as reaching past Walt’s tough exterior, something no one in his own family could do. There is a sense of loss time in the movie as he makes a statement about being friendlier with his neighbors and spending more time with them than he does his own family.
With the ending of the film it was apparent that throughout the film Walt was struggling with an illness or close to his last days. He main corn in the end was dying with purpose and protecting Thao and Suzie. He accomplished this by forcing the gang members to shoot an unarmed man with dozens of witnesses. This forced the police to have witnesses and placing those gang members as the murderers would secure their place in jail and away from Thao and Suzie. The ending was appropriate as Walt wanted to die with purpose and “Fix” the situation. In our current world Walt knew that society would be out raged that a Korean Veteran was killed by gang members and would most likely be put away in jail for some time. Based on the current environment in the movie and the fear of the community I would have agreed with the way the movie ended as those individuals in the community would have allowed more of the same from those gang members. With Walt finishing them off in that manner he guaranteed they would be held responsible for his death.
Gass, R.H., & Seiter, J.S. (2011). Persuasion, social influence and compliance gaining. (4th ed). Boston: Allyn & Bacon
Nakayama, T. (2010) Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. McGraw Hill.
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