Grand Torino

DESCRIBE IT IN FIVE WORDS:

Moving. Badass. Intense. Gripping. Hopeful

PERFORMANCE THAT BLEW YOU AWAY:

Clint Eastwood was really something. In fact it’s my favourite Clint movie.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE FILM?

“It is a strong, compelling film and an incredibly moving story. It’s got great characters and the relationships between them are complicated and realistic. Throughout the movie you have no idea what’s going to happen. Clint is totally cool. And it’s got a neat, but unique twist on the Kung Fu mentor-student type dynamic; even though the mentor is racist and mean. The movie’s got a few funny moments too. My opinion? It’s totally worth the watch!”

Patricia Donohue

STORYLINE:

Grand Torino is the story of Korean war veteran Walt Kowalski who has recently lost his wife.  Not only is Kowalski an outcast, he is alienated from the world around him, including his own family. Kowalski is also a racist who believes stereotypes, both positive and negative.

Kowalski’s neighbours are a Hmong family, whose two teenagers have become the targets of a local Hmong gang.  When his neighbours are attacked, Eastwood inadvertently saves them from the gang while protecting his own house.  His Hmong neighbours are grateful and begin to view him as a hero. While he initially spurns their friendship, he eventually accepts them.  Ironically, he becomes closer to them than he could ever get, to his own family.  On the surface it sounds like your typical “grumpy old guy hates everyone then has a change of heart” storyline. But the thing is; it’s not!

CAST:

Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes, Dreama Walker