GRAN TORINO
The Story:
Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) a retired Polish American Ford automobile assembly line worker and Korean War veteran, haunted by memories of that conflict, lives with his Labrador Retriever Daisy in the same house for much of his adult life, in an older working class suburban neighborhood of Highland Park, Detroit Michigan.
It is slowly transforming into an immigrant neighborhood. The Lor family, of ethnic Hmong descent, move in next door to Walt, the family which includes two teenagers: a shy Thao Vang Lor (Bee Vang) and his feisty sister Sue (Ahney Her), live with their widowed mother and grandmother.
When a Hispanic gang confronts Thao, the Hmong gang, led by Thao's older cousin Spider (Doua Moua), helps Thao by frightening the Hispanic gang and forcing them to flee. The Hmong gang, at that point, tries to persuade Thao to join them. Thao's initiation is to steal Walt's prized car, a 1972 Gran Torino Sport. Walt interrupts the robbery, pointing a rifle in Thao's face and forcing him to flee.
After a few days, Spider and his gang return. With Sue at his side, Thao manages to verbally confront them to no avail. The gang drags Thao off his porch in an attempt to assault him. His family tries desperately to fend off Spider and his cohorts. The conflict ends when Walt threatens the gang members with his M1 Garand rifle and orders them to get off his lawn. They leave the neighborhood, telling Walt to watch his back.
This incident, only the latest of run-in's Thao has had with them, sparks the neighbors to get to know each other. This new relationship with his neighbors extends to an antagonistic relationship with the Vietnamese gang. Walt realizes that neither Thao or Sue will ever be able to live in peace as long as the gang exists.
Drawn against his will into the life of Thao's family, Walt is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood.
Starring:
Clint Eastwood, Brian Haley, Brian Howe, Cory Hardrict, Doua Moua, Dreama Walker, Geraldine Hughes, John Carroll Lynch.
Directed By:
Clint Eastwood
Release:
2008
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