Introduction
In the 2008 film Gran Torino, directed by Clint Eastwood, the character of Walt Kowalski undergoes a significant transformation as he battles his prejudice and opens to cultural diversity. While initially hostile toward all local members of the Hmong community, the older man later develops a close connection with them. In the end, the film successfully conveys through the experiences of Walt the importance of cultural understanding and the ability of friendship to bridge the divide between East and West.
Adapting to Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity permeates the film Gran Torino, illustrated in Walt Kowalski’s relations with the Hmong people living in the neighborhood. The protagonist, Kowalski, was born and raised in the Western culture and meets the community with Eastern traditions and perceptions. On the one hand, the culture of Kowalski is seen as one that encompasses a strong sense of individualism, war veteran experiences, and deeply ingrained biases.
On the other hand, the Hmong community represents a sense of respect for traditions, collectivism, and values. In one scene, Sue says, “Some Hmong people tend to smile or grin when they’re yelled at. It’s a cultural thing. It expresses embarrassment or insecurity.” (Eastwood, 2008, 45:04). In turn, Kowalksi exhibits a deep-seated prejudice, replying, “God, you people are nuts” (Eastwood, 2008, 45:11). With such an attitude, the protagonist shows not only his rejection of foreigners but him seeing the Hmong community as inferior.
Meanwhile, the audience can see the character’s gradual growth, transformation, and adaptation to cultural diversity; after spending more time with Thao and Sue, Kowalski develops closer connections with the young people and their close-knit community. In one scene, the man is impressed by the gesture of Thao, who cleaned the older man’s car. Although not explicitly saying this, the emotions of Kowalski spoke volumes.
Additionally, as Thao was helping the protagonist take the fridge upstairs, the man shared that he wanted to sell it for sixty-five dollars, and when the young boy asked if he could buy it, the old man replied, “25 bucks and it’s yours” (Eastwood, 2008, 1:09:21). Such changes in behavior shows not simply integration into the community and eradication of prejudices but caring for the neighbors. Thus, Walt’s adaptation can be seen as a process of unlearning his preconceived notions and embracing the dignity and traditions of the Hmong people.
Walt’s Communication Style
Moving to Walt’s verbal communication, one can see how he shares his thoughts. In general, the communication style of the protagonist can be described as direct and blunt. The man can use coarse language and a hostile tone when interacting with others. Probably, the reason why he is such a straightforward person is that his character was shaped by military and war experiences. For example, in one, when Thao starts working for Kowalksi, the man demonstrates his racism by giving the boy a task of counting the birds in the tree and commenting, “All you slopes are supposed to be good at math, right?” (Eastwood, 2008, 1:09:21). In another scene, one can see how he says that “these Hmong broads are like badgers” (Eastwood, 2008, 56:01). Walt’s communication style, therefore, serves a purpose of setting dominance and controlling the environment. Through his remarks, he wants to establish authority and even intimidate others.
In contrast, Thao and Sue’s communication styles reflect the Hmong people’s traditions, values, and perspectives. In their speech, both individuals are calm and non-hostile and refrain from either tones or phrases that might seem confrontational. Although raised in the Western culture, Thao and Sue remain polite and respectful, especially toward older people. In one scene, when settling the conflict that arose due to Thao’s behavior, Sue was the one to share the message that “he dishonored the family, and now he has to work off his debt” by helping Walt (Eastwood, 2008, 55:16).
Moreover, as the connection between Thao and Walt develops, he is seen helping the old man out of respect. When moving the fridge up the stairs, Thao said, “I’m here because you needed help” (Eastwood, 2008, 1:08:23). Therefore, the viewers can see that the communication of the Hmong people, specifically Thao and Sue, demonstrates humility and collectivism.
Walt’s Perception of Friendship
Lastly, Walt’s view of friendship differs significantly from Sue and Thao’s. The protagonist sees friendship merely as a transactional relationship founded on trust. Walt is seen as an individual who values his independence, so he is initially reluctant to form any connections with the Hmong people, viewing them as outsiders. At the same time, the two younger characters see friendship as a communal and interconnected bond, which is sacred and must be protected.
In terms of strategies, Walt initiates and maintains friendships primarily through kind deeds and protection. As Sue notes, the old man liked Thao since he spent time with the boy to “teach him how to fix things, saved him from that f*cked cousin of [theirs]” (Eastwood, 2008, 1:10:25). At the same time, the Hmong people are more open in their strategies of maintaining a friendship. Sue and Thao openly support others through loyalty, respect, and gratitude.
Conclusion
In summary, Walt’s experiences in the movie effectively illustrate the value of cultural sensitivity and the capacity of friendship to close the gap between the East and the West. At first, the protagonist expresses his dislike of outsiders. However, there is a process of unlearning the preconceived ideas with subsequent adaption. Furthermore, Sue and Thao preserve the values of respect and non-hostility, while the protagonist has a straightforward communication style. Lastly, Walt’s perspective on friendship is very different from Sue and Thao’s. While the Hmong view friendship as a social and interrelated bond, the protagonist sees it as a transaction.
Reference
Eastwood, C. (Director). (2008). Gran Torino [Film]. Warner Bros.