- Published: November 13, 2021
- Updated: November 13, 2021
- University / College: University of Bath
- Language: English
- Downloads: 12
Gran Torinao is an American drama film that was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. The story of this film revolves around a Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski. Who aspires to reform his neighbour a young teenager who is apparently a thief who stole Kowalski’s high valued possessions (Curi and Mario 15). By definition, the American dream is a life that exemplifies happiness, material comfort and the accomplishment of one’s desires as sought after by the American citizens. Apparently, the plot, themes and particularly the characters of this film reflect the achievement of the American dream in many apparent ways. With the above said, this paper will specifically examine the ways in which Gran Torinao reflect the achievement of the American dream.
The film reflects the American dream through property relationships (Fiorentino 15). From the film, we are introduced to Walt and Tao, who apparently share a lot in common. Upon watching this film, one is predisposed to discerning the focus of the film towards the transfer of resources from Walt to Tao. The relationship between Walt and Tao is profoundly established at the moment when Walt gives Tao’s family his old refrigerator as a gift. In essence, this film establishes the fact that the American people particularly during the 1950s held high regards on towards sharing resources or rather transference of resources. As a way of achieving shared happiness and contentment hence the American dream. Though Tao paid for the refrigerator, it is imperative to denote that his close ally (Walt), offered him at a very low price. By acquiring the refrigerator, Tao and his family were able to elevate their lives hence living high standard America life compared to that of their home country.
In the film, shared culture is established to be a potential platform that can be used to achieve American dream. Apparently, characters in the film have differing norms and cultural beliefs but they can still correlate and work well together. Though Walt has a biological family, he decides to adopt the Hmong. The above in essence shows that people of different cultures during the 1950s correlated well together irrespective of their differences with the main objective being to achieve the American dream. Apparently, the immigrants from the film similar to any other American citizen aspired to achieve success and fulfil their dreams in the future. Based on this, it is imperative to denote that these people had to work together in harmony as a way of cultivating a bright future. By working and making good relationship with Walt, the Hmong people, particularly Tao were able to elevate their lives and that of their family. The transfer of resources from Walt to Tao is much more like a transfer of the American dream. By using the resources offered to him by Walt, Tao was able to work hard towards achieving his life goals hence the American dream.
The film exemplifies the American dream by making apparent the aspiration of the film characters in regards to their past (Broughton 68). From the film, Tao’s sister Sue Lor is a unique character because she is portrayed as a person who can easily form bonds and make good relationships with others. Apparently, she also aspires to achieve success and accomplish her goals in America hence the American dream. She aspires to live in United States as a free citizen similar to any other legal citizen of America. From the film, Sue Lor aspires to join a good American school, get a well-paying job, get married, and help her family. Her dreams are similar to any other American woman; every American woman during the past and even in the present day aspires to have a good life in the future with a loving husband and healthy children. The above in essence make apparent what people in America aspire to achieve in regards to their contentment and happiness as they live in America.
In conclusion, this film reflects the American dream in many apparent ways. The relationship between Walt and Tao as established in the film is a relationship meant to achieve some form of contentment in the aftermath. Owing the fact that Tao and his family subsequently elevate their lives courtesy of Walt. Culture is established as a potential framework of achieving the American dream. The film exemplifies the American dream by making apparent the aspiration of the film characters in regards to their past. And finally, the film reflects the American dream through property relationships.
Works Cited
Broughton, Chad. ” the world at the us-mexican border.” Contexts 9. 1 (2010): 68-70.
Curi, Umberto, and Mario Pezzella. ” on Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino.” Iris. Vol. 1. No. 2.
2009.
Fiorentino, Daniele. ” The World and the New Frontiers of the US.” RSA Journal 21. 21/22
(2011): 5-17.
Tognetti, Francesca. ” Gran Torino: a foreign neighbourhood.” Altre Modernità: Rivista di
studi letterari e culturali 2 (2009): 378-381.