Storytelling

Narrative Structure

is in line with the films genre (melodrama)
movie consists of a clearly structured situation, then follows disorder, and afterwards the resolution
situation: Walt Kowalski‘s widowed life
disorder: introduction of criminal gang and events linked to it
resolution: retaliating gang‘s actions and solving the problem of racism through violence and the death of Walt
solution of: Kowalski‘s racist nature and predicament of gang culture

Style

Conflicts

external: gang that tries to force Thao into joining their gang by stealing the Gran Torino, Thao is almost shot by Kowalski
internal: Kowalski‘s struggle with the fact that his wife is dead, his failure as a father, the racism he feels towards his neighbours

Stylistic Devices

symbol: Kowalski‘s death
$\rightarrow$ symbolizes end of violence and racism in the neighbourhood
$\rightarrow$ Kowalski as the most racist and violenct character in the movie
$\rightarrow$ death represents end of that violence and racism through sacrifice and selflessness
symbol: lighter
$\rightarrow$ bears the symbol of the rank Walt was in during the Korean War
$\rightarrow$ represent the burden about Walt‘s previous violent life
$\rightarrow$ sacrifice relieves him of that violence
allegory: Gran Torino
$\rightarrow$ represents masculine identity
$\rightarrow$ car describes Kowalski as character
$\rightarrow$ functions as a bridge between two cultures (American/Hmong) which was not there at the beginning
irony: Thao washing the Gran Torino
$\rightarrow$ Thao who attempted to steal the car, is now taking care of it

Cinematography

high-angle shot shows service of Kowalski‘s dead wife
$\rightarrow$ serves to separate Kowalski from the other people
$\rightarrow$ cannot deal with death of his wife
low-angle medium shot depicts Father Janovich
$\rightarrow$ displays his authority in consoling the mourning people
close-up shot of Kowalski‘s family, shows that they are grieving
$\rightarrow$ Walt can hardly hold back his tears and can hardly follow the sermon
low-key lighting creates mood
$\rightarrow$ Father Janovich‘s visit at Kowalski‘s house: he is illuminated while Kowalsi is only partly illuminated
$\rightarrow$ shows Kowalski‘s sadness and Father Janovich‘s optimism

Music

two motifs: military and melancholy
Motif I
$\rightarrow$ foreshadows dangerous or violent conflicts
$\rightarrow$ drums and kettledrum signalize upcoming danger, high string tones emphasizes dramatic art
Motif II
$\rightarrow$ piano, string instruments, guitar
$\rightarrow$ shows Walt‘s wish for healing his guilt and brokenness, also parting mood (Walt getting told that he is sick)
$\rightarrow$ is used when Walt maintains his car, when he watches Thao doing the chores in heavy rain
last scene where Walt is shot, Motif I merges into the Gran-Torino-Song which accompanies the 6 minute lasting closing credits and which is being sung first bei Clint Eastwood and then by Jamie Cullum

Sound

main sound: music $\rightarrow$ enables culture blending
instrumental song at the beginning: shows sadness of the event (non-diegetic because it is played before the very first scene)
$\rightarrow$ somehow soothing due to its lightness and gentleness
birds outside the church, organ play (diegetic)
last scene: gunfire accompanied by somber and soft music
$\rightarrow$ shows solemnity of Walt‘s death

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