We watched Gran Torino last week, catching it just before it slipped out of cinemas and into some obscure DVD shop. Like any other Clint Eastwood movie, there was a premise of great things to come.
We were not disappointed.
Gran Torino is in essence about a man, Walt. Bitter at the recent loss of the love of his life (his wife), the strained relationship he shares with his children and the memories of a past that continue to plague.
The thing that haunts a guy is the stuff he wasn't ordered to do.
The changing landscape of his neighborhood worsens matters. Sapped of its familiarity, Walt sees his old neighbors either die or move away. Swopped in its place are immigrants, people of a different skin tone and unknown culture.
By a stroke of fate, Walt finds himself unwittingly embroiled in a gang tussle. And out of this torrid mess brews a friendship so genuine, he rekindles his passion for life.
There is a Walt in all of us. We all battle our inner demons and can carry some form of resentment towards life if we are not careful.
But like Walt, when we have the courage to crack the walls that we've built, we realise that these walls crumble with ease. And perhaps, salvation awaits us all.
