Gran Torino Discussion Guide

Javaflix 7.11.09                                                                                 GRAN TORINO Discussion Guide

Opening Statement:

Quote from critic Roger Ebert:

“Walt is not so much a racist as a security guard, protecting his own security. He sits on his porch defending the theory that your right to walk through this world ends when your toe touches his lawn. "Gran Torino" is about two things, I believe. It's about the belated flowering of a man's better nature. And it's about Americans of different races growing more open to one another in the new century. This doesn't involve some kind of grand transformation. It involves starting to see the "gooks" next door as people you love. And it helps if you live in the kind of neighborhood where they are next door.”

 

GENERAL

·         Did you like it?

·         Do you like Clint Eastwood? Why or why not?

·         Did certain scenes stand out to you? What do you think of the ending?

·         How did you feel about Walt? How much did it change throughout the film?

·         What does the film say about redemptive violence?

·         Why is Walt so distant from his sons?

·         What makes Walt the way he is?

 

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

·         What is Walt’s view on confession? How do you feel about confession (catholic or otherwise)? What role does confession play in the film?

·         “Whatever destroys our peace is more complex than just reciting a few words” (critic)

·         What is the significance of the sins that Walt confesses and his prayers during the final showdown?

·         In what ways is past mistakes effecting his current behavior and worldview?

·         “There are few of us who don’t have significant regrets about our past behaviors.  How we deal with those regretful behaviors deeply impacts our lives.  When we confess our sins, we receive forgiveness.  When we deny our sins, we project our regrets on others and become judgmental and unsatisfiable.” Critic. Agree?

·         “The thing that haunts a man the most is the thing that he does voluntarily.” How is this true?

·         What are Walts past sins? Is he able to forgive himself? Is it possible? How do you deal with mistakes you’ve made in the past?

·         What do you believe motivated his sacrificial action?  Do you believe it was his own health situation, his caring concern for his neighbors, his desire to do something good with his life or other factors that were primary in his decision to do this?

 

 

RACISM

 

·         What brought about change in Walt? Was he still a bigot in the end?

·         Do you know anyone like Walt? In what ways are you like Walt?

·         What, if anything, countered Walts racism?

 

COMMUNITY

 

·         Do you think there is any significance behind why the filmmakers chose to have Hmong immigrants living next to Walt? Is there anything about the history of Hmong that adds relevance to the story?

·         What does community look like in the film?

·         How well do you know your neighbors?  Have you ever been motivated to extend yourself as a mentor, protector or to provide other support to a neighbor in need?

·         Do you live in a diverse meighborhood? What is it like?

·         What do you think changed in Thao’s life because of the mentoring Walt provided? Have you ever been mentored? What was it like?