Oral Presentation Part 2- Historical and Socio - Cultural

Gran Torino was directed by Clint Eastwood, who also played the leading acting role in this movie. Clint Eastwood started as an actor in the old studio system, when the major movie companies were still in the business of American life rather than international properties. Clint Eastwood incorporates some old acting styles and characterisitcs of late movies into his character as Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino. This story was written by a new film writer Nick Schenk who decieded to express Hmong hardships and racsim, which was believed to be neglected. The film's production company was Warner Brothers which helped the film win 13 awards and 7 nominations one of the more notable wins inculded a golden globe nomination for the best original song-motion picture.

The films historical context is primarily its setting in Michigan, also to reveal a neglected group of our society the Hmong people. The film reveals a racist old man played as Clint Eastwood who is a Korean War Veteren despising Asians being a critical racist. Throughout the movie Clint Eastwood becomes a positive image and a savior to the Hmong people and the neighbors living by. Eastwood grows fond of the Hmong neighbors and devotes his life to ceasing the gang violence in his neighborhood. Historically it reveals racist views on Asians primarily Hmong people who are neglected in society.

The socio-cultural relation of this film is that it was made for a wide range of audiences that endure the racism and racist views of people towards Asians. The racism revealed proved to be a key factor in Eastwood's character who despised the sight of Asians even approaching his property. The film also reveals the harshness Hmong people are enduring in our country and the antogonizing for being Asian- American. Not all racist films need to portray Latin Americans or Blacks this film calls to Asian racism which is passed upon. I believe Eastwod tried to potray a growth in ones character and reveal that acceptance even for harsh racists like his character takes time to develop.