‘How do cultural and age difference combined with differing value systems affect relationships in the film Gran

Torino. Discuss’

Synonyms for Key Terms:

CULTURE: background, tradition, customs, way of life

VALUE SYSTEMS: standards, morals, ethics, ideas, principles, beliefs

RELATIONSHIPS: rapport, bond, connection

First thoughts as a class:

 Walt is in his late 70s/early 80s and is the prime example of the white, all-American, patriotic man of his
generation.
 Thao and Sue are older teens who follow their culture and religion without too much questioning. They are
close with their family and respect their older generations. They don’t entirely fit in with their white
American counterparts.
 Walt has a poor relationship with his own children and grandchildren. He feels they lack respect and any
signs of the way in which he brought them up.
 This is in direct contrast to his Hmong neighbours. Despite not always believing in their familiy’s tradition,
they have enough respect to accept that as a way of life.

WALT Brainstorm:

 Korean War Veteran

 Worked at Ford Factory for 50 years (a deeply American company)
 Blue collar worker
 Poor relationship with his own children and grandchildren
 Socially isolated without Dorothy anchoring him to their friends
 Bigot
 Racist
 Can’t understand Hmong neighbours
 Dislikes that they have moved into ‘his’ neighbourhood
 In mourning for his beloved wife
 Anything and anyone new of ‘different’, who is not white and share his ways creates a conflict for him.

Ideas for Body Paragraphs:

1. Walt’s relationship with himself and his family

 With the death of his wife Dorothy, Walt is isolated and different for the first time in his life.
 He must now maintain relationships with his children and grandchildren on his own.
 Walt clearly has baggage and issues with regard to his time in Korea. This has potentially tainted his view of
foreigners and young people who have not had to endure the same things as he did.
 It is clear to the audience that Walt is gravely unwell. He will not take treatment and is unable and unwilling
to share this news with others (despite nearly reaching out to his son) .
 His sons believe that anything they do will be disapproved of by their old fashioned, stubborn father. His
values system is too ingrained and too staunch.

QUOTES:
“You probably just painted your nails” (Walt to granddaughter Ashley when she is forced to offer him help)
“I want it done before next week!” (Walt to his son)
“Would it kill you to buy American?” (Walt to his son Mitch as he drives off early from his mother’s wake in a
Toyota car).
“I worked at Ford for 50 years and he sells Japanese cars”. (Walt sharing his distaste at his sons’ line of work.
“There’s nothing anybody can do that won’t disappoint the old man”. (Mitch to his brother, expressing his
strained ideas about his father).
“You wanna know what it's like to kill a man? Well, it's goddamn awful, that's what it is. The only thing worse is
getting a medal...” Walt to Thao about

2. Walt and his unlikely bond with Sue

 Walt resists Sue’s kindness and openness at first. Knee-jerk and automatic reaction.
 She is a confident, strong and independent young woman who is the only character in the film to stand up
with Walt and call out his bad habits.
 He is very tactless and insensitive towards her, but it is through these nasty nicknames that the audience can
see it is Walt trying to be endearing and actually likes her.
 It is despite these age, cultural and moral beliefs that these two characters create a special bond, similar to a
grandfather-granddaughter relationship.
 Sue is honest about her culture and the lack of assimilation that has held them back. She is also honest with
Walt about his grumpiness and stubbornness being the reason he is held back from his life.
 It is when Sue is assaulted by the gang, that Walt feels he can redeem himself for past wrongs and defend
she and her family from the gang.
 He sacrifices himself for the sake of his new family.

QUOTES:
“Come on Wally!” Sue’s nickname to Walt.
“No worries, we only eat cats.” Sue to Walt, throwing back some sarcasm.
“You hang out with him, you teach him to fix things, you saved him from that f*cked cousin of ours. And you're a
better man to him than our own father was. You're a good man.” Sue to Walt
“Get me another beer, Dragon Lady! This one's running on empty.” Walt to Sue

3. Walt’s connection with Father Janovich/faith/lack of faith

 This is a challenging relationship for Walt and one that he initially refuses to engage in.
 He loved and respected his late wife and admitted to Father J that he only attended church to support her
beliefs.
 Walt is uneasy with someone younger than him lecturing about life and death and what it all means.
Believes that Father J is too young and naïve and believes in a farcical God that doesn’t exist.
 Father J can clearly see that Walt is uneasy about his passed and continues to reach out to Walt as Dorothy
had requested him to after her passing. She clearly knew more than Walt thought!
 Each have similar views on the gang and their respect for the Hmong community and join together on that
topic.
 Each have a different view in which to handle the gang.

QUOTES:
“I think you're an overeducated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of superstitious old ladies and
promise them everlasting life.” Walt to Father J
“I confess that I have no desire to confess.” Walt to Father J
“I am at peace!” Walt to Father J when FJ says he ‘Go in Peace..’
“[He’s] got [his] whole life ahead of you, but for me, I finish things.” Walt about Thao