Gran Torino Review

English 1100-006

3/14/11

Gran Torino Review

Character Analysis: Thao

As the movie progresses it could be said that the movie is not only about Walt’s growth but also Thao’s. This is because Thao goes from being a meek boy who does whatever he is told to do when pressured to being an action ready, will protect his family at all costs man. This growth begins after Walt gives Thao a small lecture at a Hmong cook out that Sue invited him to for giving her a ride home, and running off the gang members; the lecture was about him not being a man or having the kahunas to talk to ‘yum yum’ a young Hmong woman who had been staring at him. The changes begin to show even more as Thao begins to work for Walt to make up for his attempt to steal the Gran Torino for the gang.

As Thao does work for Walt he learns how to do honest work and begins to care for the racist man who undertook the job of manning him up. At the end of the time that Thao works for Walt he is taken around the town to be shown how to be a man, how to talk like one and other ‘manly’ things. After receiving help with getting a job, Thao begins to take a lot of responsibility for his family, caring and providing for them. And when the gang strikes out attacking Sue, he wanted revenge, but Walt, now a father like figure, locks him in the basement so that he would not get hurt as he took on the gang. And the movie closes with Thao driving away in his newly inherited Gran Torino, the thing that brought he and Walt together in the first place.

Thematic Analysis: Life and Death

One of the major themes of the movie is life and death. It is constantly questioned in the movie between Walt and Father Janovich. It is first asked at the funeral of Walt’s wife what is life? What is death? Walt thinks he knows more about life and death than Father Janovich because of the Korean War, where he killed 13 people. The Father responds that Walt know’s more about death then than life.

As the movie progresses and...