Abstract
This paper will reflect over crime problems from the movie Gran Tornio that was directed, produced and star in by Clint Eastwood. It will reflect over the angles of crimes. It will consider the worldview that is being presented. It will show also how the problems could have been dealt with in a Christian worldview. This movie was so beautiful for it incorporated the themes of cultures, racism, family, religion, hope, and change. A movie that was so elegantly done that only a noble and well respected person like Clint Eastwood could create. Clint Eastwood also stars in this movie which also gave it stellar view for he is an actor like no other. He is an actor that is great as the actors of Clark Gable. Clint Eastwood is a legend with his own style that is seen through this movie.
Main Body
The movie is about a character named Walt Kowalski who is a racist grumpy veteran. It is played by Clint Eastwood. He is living in a neighbor that has changed and he not happy about that. It has changed because there are Asians living there now. The neighbors used to be a Polish area. The movie starts with the funeral of Mr. Kowalski wife. In this scene of the funeral and the dinner after the funeral, it is shown the strain of family ties.
His family is interested in his possessions. Especially his granddaughter, who make a rude comment about his 1972 Grand Tornio. In her comment, she showed no respect to her grandpa. For her grandfather, the 1972 Grand Tornio was his pride and joy.
The Grand Tornio was the object of desire for a gang to steal. A member of this gang forced their cousin to join. His cousin lived next door to Mr. Kow. Mr. Kowa had to defend his pride and joy when the gang tries to steal it one night. Mr. Kowalski defended it with his style, a gun that saved this cousin of the gang.
Because of these actions the family had this cousin, by the character name of Thao, to help Mr. Kowalski. It was not liked by Mr. Kowalski at first, but gradually he became accept. Through this, he became friends with the cousin sister played the character Sue. He eventually learned to like them and find to have more in common with them then his family. Then one night the gang shot up the house of Sue and Thao. Later they attack Sue.
This review might seem long, but it necessary the readers have a grasp of this movie. There are countless many more surprises in this and an ending that words cannot explain that a person need to see this movie. Again, this movie is rich are culture, racism, family and other important values. That is why this review was given so this can be apprenticed.
Again, Walt Kowalski is a veteran. He served the Korean War. He gives little details about his time served. It is enough to understand the war affected him and made him the person he is today. It also mentioned that he works for Ford and retired there. When one of his sons, owns a foreign car, he made a snappy remark about that.
This is showing the history and culture of a period. When men like Walt Kowalski served the Korean War and worked at Ford or any of The Big Three as they were called during that period. This was a time there was more respect and family values. Again in this movie, it is shown that Mr. Kowalski does not have that with his family.
The son blew off the comment from his dad about buying a foreign car. Mr. Kowalski lives in the state of Michigan. There was a time in Detroit that Ford, GM and Chrysler were considered the Big 3. Countless people that worked at the factory and their family had traditions that if a person works for one of the companies; a person bought a car from that same company. While the Big 3 is gone today, there are still certain people that hold that tradition to their heart.
Family is necessary not only in Michigan but throughout the world. Detroit was the birthplace for the Big 3. When they collapsed, it brought lot families together, and it also tore families apart. This movie was made in 2008. Even today, a person can go to Michigan, and there are still countless Michigan drivers with a bumper sticker promoting do not buy foreign cars.
Family has also changed. During the generation time of Walt Kowalski, children took care of their parents. Now and sadly for the past couple years, even in 2008, more children are ready to take their parents to a retirement home. This was seen in the movie during Mr. Kowalski birthday. It was the sad event for if the family had a connection bond, the family would know he was active and mentally able to take care of himself. He was alone, but he had that dog he loved and he showed that love in his own unique way. He mowed the grass with the old type grass mover. He washes his pride and joy.
His other joy was his wife. He made comments that, without her, he would have been lost. That is showing the value of marriage in Mr. Kow generation. Now, society has a higher development of divorce rates.
The rates of populations of Polish and whites moving from the particular town in Michigan have increased. It did not say the exact city, but it gives hints of what the city might have been. The town at the present stage is slowly changing for the worst. There are abandoned buildings here and there. It does not look the neighbor that a family with kids will want to move in with all due respect.
The gangs are present in this neighbored. There are the Asians gangs and the black gangs. This black gang might not be a gang, but in the way they attack the character Sue, it shows features of gang outlook because they all stood there. It is not being racist saying that. Mr. Kowalski was happening to drive by then, and save Sue from further harassment.
This rescue help forms another bond between Sue and Mr. Kowalski. Sue was not offended with his racism ways and was open minded. This helps bring Mr. Kowalski out of his racism ways. They were meant to meet each other.
This movie has Christian views. There was the character Father Janovich that was constantly trying to get Mr. Kowalski opens up. No matter how grumpy and short-tempered he was, Father Janovich never gave up.
The movie also showed Christian views by showings messages that can be seen as signs of hopes and changes. Again, from Sue pushing Mr. Kowalski and then having a friendship open Mr. Kowalski heart. This can be seen that God does intervene in mysterious ways.
It shows the Christian views in the conclusion and throughout the movie. Again the conclusion is so heartwarmingly, it best for a person to seen. Again, no words can describe it. This can be seen be that no matter a person past, God always love a person and is willing to forgive anything as long as the person is willing to change. It also shows can be seen in the end as a message that through sacrifice, goodwill come and God is always listening.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
- Psalm 23”
This verses from the Bible provide the foundation of this movie. The movie is a circle of life with what are the actual values of importance in life. This versus brings the foundation of the cultural values from Sue, Thao and Mr. Walt Kowalski. It shows how and proves that even the impossible can be perform. That is one of the central beliefs of being a Christian. The versus also provides hope.
Hope that even with a person as racist, stubborn and mean as Walk Kowalski a person can change. It shows through this versus that God never gives up on a person. That is also providing another Christian example of this movie.
This versus shows that even family can be a person worst problems. Again, Mr. Kowalski did not have any ties with his families. He connects a family band, with Sue and Thao and their family. People that he formally used to hate. Again, he learns to change.
This movie is a classical. It should be seen in college classes for it brings the lessons of quality of family, religion, history, culture, hatred, love, care, hope and faith. In our society, today there is so much misfortune we seen in the news from the guns shootings in Chicago to the Navy Yard misfortune. Hope and love can happen. This movie provides a foundation of how to change for a better place and a better person. This movie shows the ever-loving and overpowering God.
