Gran Torino

Grand Torino Questions

1) Where does Gran Torino take place and When?
It takes place in Detroit and in 1972.
2)What is significant about this setting?
Its significant because it was a neighborhood with white people and south Asian people started moving i and that was linked back to Walt's past.
3)What do you think Walt's motivation is for mentoring Tao?
I think his motivation could be that he saw that Tao was in a tough position from having to normally choose the gang life, but Walt knew Tao wasn't like that so he wanted to help him better himself and be different than his cousin.
4)How does Walt feel about Sue compared to her brother Tao, in the beginning? Why do you think he feels this way?
He feels that she's very brave for a girl and especially how she dealt with the guys that were hassling, compared to how Tao is more timid and scared of sticking up for himself.
5)How does Walt feel about his own family? How is this different from the way his neighbors treat the idea of family?
Walt doesn't get along with his family as he feels they're too spoilt and take things for granted. His neighbors treat there family with love even with the little amount of money and things they have, they also are more involved with each other and not separated because of the modern things they don't have.
6)What are some customs Walt's neighbors have that surprise him?
A custom that surprises Walt is how there family gets along so well with each other and how involved they are with communication. Another custom is that how Tao's family won't look him in the eye but it's shown as respect from their point of view.
7)Have you experienced culture shock? or been surprised by a cultural practice that isn't your own?
No
8)What is the purpose of the priest character? How would the film be different if this character wasn't in it?
The purpose of this character is that he's meant to remind Walt of what his wife would've wanted or to remind him that violence isn't the only way he needs to think of life and to let his past bring him down. If the priest wasn't in the film Walt would be stuck with weight on his shoulders with not knowing his sons very well and not having someone to talk to.
9)How is Walt effected by his experience from war?
Walt admits in the movie him killing other people is still always on his mind and is like a weight on his shoulders. It also imprinted on her felt about Tao and his family.
10)What do you think the directors view of gang culture is? How do you know?
I think the director doesn't like gang culture and for some people it may have to be a choice, so in the movie he shows another option instead of joining a gang that you become your own person just like Tao did.
11)Why do you think the film is called Gran Torino? What is the significance of the title?
I think the film is called Gran Torino because the movies all about the car that Walt owns. Its significant because in the beginning Tao is caught trying to steal Walt's Gran Torino and in the end when Walt dies he ends up giving it to Tao. This also shows that he has forgiven Tao and counts him as family from how close they had grown.
12)What is the role of the religion in the film?
The role is that in the start Walt never engaged with the Priest or church as he didn't believe in it. After his wife death he opened up and starting believing in the religion by making a confession and being more involved with the priest.