Analysis

The structure of the film Gran Torino (2008) directed by Clint Eastwood is chronological and largely follows the traditional three-act structure of most films or plays. The film includes several subplots which support the main story and which all further the main character’s development and the relationship between him and the other characters. 

The film tells the story of Walt Kowalski, the main character, who is a bitter and racist war veteran. He unintentionally becomes close to Thao and Sue Vang Lor, his next-door Hmong neighbors, and begins to appreciate that people can be more similar than they may appear at first sight. 

The setting of the narrative is Highland Park, Michigan around the year 2007. This is a part of the United States that had undergone rapid change in only half a century and this affects Walt who clings to the past and is unwilling to come to terms with the diverse society he currently lives in. 

Several cinematic devices help to enhance different scenes and to highlight certain traits of the characters or create a more immersive experience for the audience. The song Gran Torino in particular is used throughout the movie to help tell Walt’s story. 

The film also includes different symbols and motifs which offer an additional layer of meaning to the story. Walt’s car, lighter, and guns, for example, are all symbolic objects that help the audience understand who Walt is. 

You can read a full analysis of the movie on the following pages.