Character relationships

Walt and Thao

The relationship between the main character Walt Kowalski and his Hmong neighbor Thao Vang Lor is at the center of Clint Eastwood’s film Gran Torino (2008).

Walt and Thao represent opposites

At first, Walt and Thao do not like each other. Walt, in particular, is extremely racist and despises Thao and his family and often insults them. Thao, in his turn, does not seem to express any sort of feelings towards Walt and he does not engage with him. The one time he goes to Walt to ask to borrow jumper cables, Walt insults him and slams the door in his face even though it is later shown he could have helped Thao (00:09:11). 

In the beginning, Walt and Thao represent contrasting worlds. Walt is a white American who detests the fact that his neighborhood has become a Hmong community, while Thao is part of the community that Walt hates so much. Moreover, Walt is part of the older generation and clings to the past, while Thao is a teenager, and Walt assumes Thao must be just like his disrespectful grandchildren. Walt’s suspicions appear to be confirmed when he finds out Thao attempted to steal his Gran Torino. From then on, Walt starts despising Thao, considering him no better than the disruptive Hmong gang. 

Walt’s opinion of Thao only begins to improve when he witnesses Thao helping a neighbor with her groceries while other teenagers laugh and mock her (00:39:28). As Walt gets closer to Sue and the rest of the Hmong community, he warms up to Thao too, though he still dislikes him for attempting to steal his Gran Torino. At the barbecue on Walt’s birthday, Walt ob...