Response to Gran Torino Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Response to Gran Torino - Essay Example This is because it does not go as far as the extremes of racist language and that there is not a single character that takes offence to the language used. However, the language may be offensive to the audience watching the film as most of the terms, though witty, are in bad taste of conventional anti-racist terms, especially when used by Caucasians, as is the case with Walt. This makes the language to be in bad taste of the audience in addition to the presence of random Hmong chatter to make up of Asian language scenes in the film. The use of this language in the film is not entirely appropriate although it serves its purpose in creating realistic scenes of Asian language speech. There is also extensive use of dirty speech or language throughout the movie with swear words and cursing with words such as goddamnit, bitch, fuck and shit, which make the film a bit language unfriendly although it is common in most modern movies. Gran Torino also features aspects of racism that are incorpo rated in language and other activities depicted in the film. The first one is in the definition and names assigned to different ethnicities such as Asians, who are called chinks, African Americans who are called niggers and Polish Americans, who are called Polacks. This shows the degree of ethnic intolerance throughout the film, in addition to the dissatisfaction of Walt Kowalski in his hatred towards Asians. This is because he is a Korean War veteran and is intolerant attitude towards Asians.... d names assigned to different ethnicities such as Asians, who are called chinks, African Americans who are called niggers and Polish Americans, who are called Polacks. This shows the degree of ethnic intolerance throughout the film, in addition to the dissatisfaction of Walt Kowalski in his hatred towards Asians. This is because he is a Korean War veteran and is intolerant attitude towards Asians, until he starts mentoring Thao, the next-door teenage boy. Although there is this form of reconciliation in the film through mentoring the boy, it appears as if the racial tension between the Caucasian man and the Asians does not entirely go away. The above is due to the presence of Asian gangs who target the family of his mentee, which brings up the concept of revenge. In regard to portrayal of revenge in Gran Torino, Asian gangs are portrayed as largely unforgiving; in the same way that Walt Kowalski is, when one tries to mess with his family. Walter Kowalski holds the concept of family d early and carries his family with high regard in regard to the Hmongs who live in is neighborhood. Following the rescue of Thao from the influence of the Asian gang operating in his neighborhood by Walt, the Asians seek their revenge against Walt (Gran Torino). This is in addition to punishing Thao’s sister, Sue, for receiving Walt’s help and helping the two stands up against the gang to stop with their oppression. The Hmong gang beats up Walt and drives by Thao’s house shooting at it, and in the process wound Thao in the neck, while the revenge mission of the Hmong gang goes beyond this in that they abduct Sue, beat her up, rape her and then discard her at her house. Revenge in the film appears to be taken seriously through vicious actions by gangs and individuals, although Walt and