Structure

The movie Gran Torino (2008) directed by Clint Eastwood tells the story of Walt Kowalski, a retired war veteran, who is one of the only remaining white people in a neighborhood that has become a Hmong community.

The film follows a chronological plot structure as it follows Walt’s story. The narrative can be split into a three-act structure. The first act serves as the introduction and presents Walt’s family conflicts, his racist attitude towards his neighbors, and Thao’s problems with the local gang. The second act focuses on Walt’s development and shows him slowly warming up to the Hmong community and to Thao. The conflict between Thao and the Hmong gang escalates in the third act when Walt steps up to protect Thao. 

The main plot of the movie focuses on Walt’s personal development from a racist and unhappy old man to a guiding and protective figure for Thao. Thao’s conflict with the Hmong gang also plays into this and helps to further both Walt and Thao’s personal growth. At the same time as Walt’s relationship with Thao and the Hmong community in his neighborhood grows, a subplot exp...