It is important to know one’s own identity. We might ask ourselves what exactly is identity? Well, Patricia Briggs in Cry Wolf has said that ‘identity is partly heritage, partly upbringing, but mostly the choices you make in life’ and I think it wouldn’t have been a better way to show it than in the feature film, “Gran Torino.” This film written and directed by Clint Eastwood in 2008 embodies the struggle of an American man who hates all things foreign due to his upbringing, to a man that mentors a foreigner and ultimately chooses to sacrifice his life to bring justice to them.
Walt Kowalski is characterised to be an old fashioned, hard-core American man who hates foreign objects. This is emphasised from the close up shots of Walt’s disapproving glare juxtaposed with close up shots of his granddaughter’s scanty clothes. Also it is emphasised in the conversation that his sons have. Furthermore, his hate for foreign made objects is illustrated when he looks displeased at his son’s choice of car. The close up shot on the car clearly illustrates that it is ‘Toyota’ and not an American car. He also adds through gritted teeth “kill you to buy American” emphasises his animosity for foreign cars and the shudder at the end illustrates his disgust for foreign objects. Throughout the film, Kowalski is depicted to be incapable of interacting with a non-white person without using the most offensive racial epithets. This snarling character also represents masculinity that relies on overt racism and machismo as a constitutive feature thus suggesting that masculinity is part of American identity.
This film is set in the context of the auto industry that is slowly diminishing and the fate of the central character dying is intertwined with this. It illustrates that both appear to be dying but the perfect condition of the Gran Torino emphasises the past glory. This Gran Torino is a metaphor for Walt’s sense of cultural identity as in what it means to be an American. Furthermore when he says, “Aint’s she sweet?” it emphasises that this car is dear to his heart. Also with the serene music playing in the background suggests that with this car brings Walt a sense of peace.
This long shot that frames both Kowalski’s and his Hmong neighbour’s house and lawn emphasises the pristine condition of Kowalski’s house compared to his foreign neighbour. This suggests that Americans are hard workers whilst the Hmong do not care of the condition of the place they live in. This serves as a marker of Kowalski’s class and moral values as an American are better than the Hmong’s. There is a repetition of close up shots of Kowalski mowing his lawn with a manual lawn mower rather than a power lawn mower emphasising that Americans are brought up to be hard workers who rely more on themselves rather than machines.
The characterisation of Sue and Thao Lor who are part of the family that live next to Kowalski and most of the member of the Hmong community are depicted as people who are unable to protect themselves. In one of the scene in which Sue and her boyfriend are accosted by a gang, Kowalski comes to the rescue. The close up shots on Kowalski’s white hair and wrinkled face illustrates that he is an old man suggesting that he is weak but when his body language and the presence of the gun suggests otherwise. The low angle shot looking up at Kowalski with the gun that connotes to destruction and violence suggests that he is a man with power. Furthermore, Kowalski’s entrance to this scene, he arrives in his white pick- up truck symbolises ‘a prince charming coming to the rescue in his great white stallion.’ The dynamics of this film reinforces the idea that Walt provides guidance, stability and pathways to safety.
Also there are no Hmong characters depicted to fight back against the gang who terrorizes it. This juxtaposed with Walt Kowalski, standing rigid and straight emphasises his courageousness and represents Hmong people as weak and docile. Throughout the film there is American patriarchal war music whenever Walt fights against crimes to bring justice. This audio code emphasises American identity that they are courageous, strong, and brave and fight for justice like Captain America. Furthermore the way he falls backwards with hands spread out symbolises Jesus Christ who sacrificed himself for mankind and in here Walt Kowalski sacrifices himself for Hmong people. The thud when he falls down and the sound of his last breath with the blood from his wrist emphasises his sacrifice once again. Also the lighting on Walt Kowalski just before he was killed depicts the change of his character- change from a bigot, racist person to someone who embraces multiculturalism.