Introduction
- 2008 American drama film
- directed and produced by Clint Eastwood
- screenplay by Nick Schenk
- actors: Clint Eastwood (Walt Kowalski), Bee Vang (Thao Vang Lor), Ahney Her (Sue Vang Lor), Christopher Carley (Father Janovich), Doua Moua (Spider), Sonny Vue (Smokie)
- first mainstream American movie that features Hmong Americans
- story revolves about Korean war veteran Walt Kowalski whose wife recently died, who is emotionally separated from his family and who can be counted as grumpy old man
- his Hmong neighbour Thao Vang Lor is pressured to steal Walt‘s prized Gran Torino in order to join a gang
- Walt thwarts this enterprise and starts to develop a relationship to the Hmong neighbours
- mainly deals with prejudices and racism, but also with the development of a character
- film sets out to solve the problem of Walt’s racist nature
- message: how conservative America can change just by getting to know people (Walt represents America and its values)
- idea of nationalism is skewed concept: Walt himself is the descendent of Polish immigrants, surrounds himself with people of different cultures (Italian barber, Hmong neighbour)
- movie grossed nearly $270 million worldwide
- current reference: the presidential election of Donald Trump in 2016
parallels between Trump and Kowalski (racism, foreigners getting out of their surroundings (country/lawn))