Comment
Walt a hero?
Exciting, captivating, touching, affectionate and virtuous. These are just a
few of many words to describe the 2008 movie Gran Torino, an American
drama directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the
movie. Gran Torino tells the story of a difficult elderly white man named
Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran, living in Detroit,
Michigan. During the movie, Walt is developing a relationship to his
neighbors who come from a different ethnicity and culture and gets
involved in his Hmong neighbor’s family issues. Sacrificing his own life,
Walt puts an end to the violence and terror of Spider’s gang and saves his
neighborhood. One would say Walt’s sacrifice is a heroic act, but can you
really be sure of that or is it the complete opposite of heroic?
A hero is defined as someone who is acknowledged for his courageous and
selfless behavior or actions. The movie highlights certain heroic events in
Walt’s life beginning with his service in the U.S Army during the Korean
War when he was awarded the Silver Star. Nevertheless, Walt does not
want to be called a hero, after he protects Thao and his family from the
gang members when they arrive at his neighbor’s yard. The reason Walt
wouldn’t describe himself as a hero could be due to his memories of his
time in the Korean War where he killed not only enemy soldier but also
seventeen-year-olds. I think Walt is aware of his mistakes and perhaps
wanted to make up for those mistakes of his past by sacrificing his own life
and at the same time escaping them. This is something a real hero
wouldn’t do. A real hero would face his fears and would not give up his
own life only to escape them.
On the other hand, throughout the movie we can experience a big
development in the relationship of Walt to his Hmong neighbors. Not only
forgives he Thao for trying to steal his Gran Torino, he also gives him work
to do, he helps him finding a job and becoming more like a real men. But
most importantly, Walt tries to protect Thao and his Sister Sue from the
gang. More and more we get to see that Walt really cares for his neighbors
and that he would do anything to secure their safety, even if he has to
sacrifice his own life. This is what distinguishes a true hero.
During the movie, we get to know that Walt is diagnosed with cancer. We
also know about his bad relationships to his family, especially to his two
sons. Not only would his life end one way or another, there would be no
one who would really miss him. A hero shouldn’t be someone who shows
weakness and fear. On the contrary, a hero should show strength and, as
already mentioned, face his fears as well.
Walt a hero?
Exciting, captivating, touching, affectionate and virtuous. These are just a
few of many words to describe the 2008 movie Gran Torino, an American
drama directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the
movie. Gran Torino tells the story of a difficult elderly white man named
Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran, living in Detroit,
Michigan. During the movie, Walt is developing a relationship to his
neighbors who come from a different ethnicity and culture and gets
involved in his Hmong neighbor’s family issues. Sacrificing his own life,
Walt puts an end to the violence and terror of Spider’s gang and saves his
neighborhood. One would say Walt’s sacrifice is a heroic act, but can you
really be sure of that or is it the complete opposite of heroic?
A hero is defined as someone who is acknowledged for his courageous and
selfless behavior or actions. The movie highlights certain heroic events in
Walt’s life beginning with his service in the U.S Army during the Korean
War when he was awarded the Silver Star. Nevertheless, Walt does not
want to be called a hero, after he protects Thao and his family from the
gang members when they arrive at his neighbor’s yard. The reason Walt
wouldn’t describe himself as a hero could be due to his memories of his
time in the Korean War where he killed not only enemy soldier but also
seventeen-year-olds. I think Walt is aware of his mistakes and perhaps
wanted to make up for those mistakes of his past by sacrificing his own life
and at the same time escaping them. This is something a real hero
wouldn’t do. A real hero would face his fears and would not give up his
own life only to escape them.
On the other hand, throughout the movie we can experience a big
development in the relationship of Walt to his Hmong neighbors. Not only
forgives he Thao for trying to steal his Gran Torino, he also gives him work
to do, he helps him finding a job and becoming more like a real men. But
most importantly, Walt tries to protect Thao and his Sister Sue from the
gang. More and more we get to see that Walt really cares for his neighbors
and that he would do anything to secure their safety, even if he has to
sacrifice his own life. This is what distinguishes a true hero.
During the movie, we get to know that Walt is diagnosed with cancer. We
also know about his bad relationships to his family, especially to his two
sons. Not only would his life end one way or another, there would be no
one who would really miss him. A hero shouldn’t be someone who shows
weakness and fear. On the contrary, a hero should show strength and, as
already mentioned, face his fears as well.
