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Gran Torino
Disgruntled Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, Thao Lor, a Hmong teenager who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: a 1972 Gran Torino.
2008 · Directed by Clint Eastwood · 116 min · Drama · Screenplay in the scene database · 18 frames
Tagline
Get off my lawn.
Plot
Recently widowed Walt Kowalski is an ill-tempered and racially prejudiced Korean War veteran and retired Ford factory worker. His Rust Belt neighborhood in Metro Detroit has become ridden with gang violence among poor Hmong immigrants, including Walt's next-door neighbors, the Vang Lor family. Walt is estranged from his spoiled family, and on his eightieth birthday angrily rejects his son's suggestion that he move to a retirement community in favor of living alone with his aging Labrador retriever Daisy. A chronic smoker, Walt suffers from coughing fits, occasionally spitting up blood. As Walt's late wife requested, her priest, Father Janovich, tries to comfort Walt and persuade him to go to confession. Despite being harshly rejected by Walt, Father Janovich persists.
Thao Vang Lor is coerced by a Hmong gang led by his cousin, "Spider," to steal Walt's 1972 Ford Gran Torino as an initiation. Walt catches Thao and thwarts the theft; Thao escapes after Walt nearly shoots him. When the gang tries to abduct Thao forcefully, Walt scares them off with his M1 Garand rifle, earning the local Hmong community's respect. As penance, Thao's mother makes Thao work for Walt performing tasks that improve the neighborhood. The two men soon form a tenuous mutual respect. Walt mentors Thao, helping him obtain a construction job. Walt also rescues Thao's sister, Sue, from being raped by three African American gangsters. Despite his initial prejudices, Walt bonds with the Vang Lor family. With his cough worsening, Walt consults a doctor who provides a dismal prognosis, which he conceals.
After the gang assaults Thao on his way home from work, Walt physically assaults a member as a warning. In retaliation, the gang beats and rapes Sue, and then injures Thao in a drive-by shooting. Out of fear, the family refuses to report the crimes. The following day, an enraged Thao seeks Walt's help to exact revenge; Walt convinces him to return later that day. Walt buys a suit, gets a haircut, and finally confesses to Father Janovich.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Nick Schenk
- Cinematography: Tom Stern
- Edited by: Joel Cox, Gary D. Roach
- Music: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
- Production design: James J. Murakami
- Produced by: Clint Eastwood, Bill Gerber, Robert Lorenz
Cast
- Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski
- Christopher Carley as Father Janovich
- Bee Vang as Thao
- Ahney Her as Sue
- Brian Haley as Mitch Kowalski
- Geraldine Hughes as Karen Kowalski
- Dreama Walker as Ashley Kowalski
- Brian Howe as Steve Kowalski
- John Carroll Lynch as Barber Martin
- William Hill as Tim Kennedy
Production
- Country: United States of America, Germany
- Language: English
- Studios: Matten Productions, Double Nickel Entertainment, Gerber Pictures, Malpaso Productions
- Budget: $33,000,000
- Box office: $270,000,000
- Themes: rape, war veteran, gangster, immigration, racist, old man, priest, gang, detroit, michigan, widower
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