Director
Clint Eastwood
Leading Actors/Actresses
Clint Eastwood and Bee Vang
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Ahney Her, Christopher Carley, and Doua Moua
Genre
Drama
Language
English
Awards
The song "Gran Torino" was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Date of Release
December 12th, 2008
Producer
Clint Eastwood, Bill Gerber, and Robert Lorenz
Setting and Context
The film is set in the early 2000s in Highland Park, Michigan; most of the action takes place in a formerly white working-class neighborhood that now has a significant Hmong expat community.
Narrator and Point of View
The film does not feature narration.
Tone and Mood
The tone oscillates between comical and somber; the mood is ominous and occasionally heartwarming.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Walt is the protagonist; antagonists include his family, neighbors, and particularly the Hmong gangsters who harass Thao and Sue.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the film is that Walt wants to save Thao from falling prey to gang predations while Walt's excessive pride (hubris) means he is unwilling to seek help from anyone else.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Walt sacrifices his life so that the Hmong gangsters will be locked away in prison for murdering him, leaving Sue and Thao safe from their harassment.
Foreshadowing
The Hmong gangsters sexually harassing Sue foreshadows their eventual sexual assault against her.
Understatement
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
The film was the first major motion picture in the US to foreground the American Hmong community in its story and casting.
Allusions
Walt's arms-extended pose as he falls dead is a visual allusion to Jesus Christ's crucifixion and self-sacrifice.
