Gran Torino Film Analysis
Norma J Morehead
Intercultural/International Communication
10 June 2012
Cultural conflict and popular culture are two experiences in life that assist in defining intercultural communication and how its influence affects our daily intercommunication. Cultural conflict is inevitable as we live out our daily lives in the identities we have selected for ourselves, the identities relating to our ethnicity and in those identities others have selected for us. These identities are bound to conflict with another individual’s identities which is why there is a need for understanding what intercultural communication is and how it can be enhanced becomes vital to peaceful living around the world.
Walt learned that you do not pat Hmong people or their children on the head ever because they believe the soul dwells there. Looking someone in the eye was considered rude; that is why everyone looked down instead of looking Walt directly in the eye. Sue also advised Walt that Hmong people will smile or grin when yelled at this was a cultural thing related to embarrassment or insecurity.
Goal conflicts are when people disagree about a preferred (ideal) outcome. Three examples of goal conflicts found in the film Gran Torino are:
1. Walt’s conflict with his son in that Walt was fine living in the house alone after his wife Dorothy died and was secure in taking care of himself and his home. Walt’s son and his wife, on the other hand, felt that Walt would be better off in a retirement home with amenities.
2. When Walt came to the rescue of Thao and his family as the gang members tried to drag Thao off with them Walt came out and ran the gang members off his property with force. Thao’s family and the neighborhood considered Walt a hero for saving Thao from the gang members that night a celebrated him with gifts, flowers and food. Walt had no interest in becoming their hero; his goal was to get them off his property. Each had different goals in the confrontation.
3. The priest was upset with Walt’s handling of the situation that night asking why he did not call the police regarding the incident as someone could have been killed. The