From death to life

Noel 2021-10-19 09:48:48

The film begins with a funeral. The young priest throws out the eternal doubts of mankind: What is life? The hardships of life make people feel the pain is life? What is death again? Is God's salvation the end of life?

Kowalski is like the Gran Torino that is different, yet incompatible with the reality of society, and is even more incompatible with the surrounding Miao people. When it comes to "birth", he can only think of having a family and children. However, his children had nothing in common with him, and even mocked Walt's "outdated" at his mother's funeral. When it comes to "death", Walt Kowalski feels deeply. Although he doesn't say it, you can smell the cruelty of war. Kowalski's perception of "death" goes far beyond the understanding of life.

With the persistent visit of the young pastor, the film's discussion of "death" has become more in-depth. Yes, it is the "killing" that makes the soul restless. Some people use "passive execution of orders" to explain to others, paralyze themselves, and make atonement for God. However, what really keeps people awake at night are those "active" killings. Walt doesn't think anyone can understand these feelings anymore.

At the invitation of the kind-hearted Sue, Walt made an exception to barbecue at the Hmong home. The Miao wizard relentlessly recounted his "dead" state: no one respected him, Gran Torino, and no one knew him. He was living in the agony of the past, and his soul was uneasy. The film's narration of "death" here brings the film to its first climax.

Walt was surprised and surprised to discover that these Miao people from Asia actually knew him better than his children. The kind-hearted Sue, the down-to-earth Tao, seems to have his youthful shadow. Teaching Tao the process of being a man, and guiding Tao the process of making a girlfriend, gave this Gran Torino alive, and it can be opened for the first time. But the existence of gangsters made these young souls unable to find peace. Walt couldn't help asking himself again, what is death? What is life? Walt knew that killing was shameful, and even more shameful was getting a medal for killing. It wasn't just other people who killed, but his own soul also died. And how could he let young Tao lose his soul? He wants Tao and Gran Torino to live with a soul. The medal is obtained in a non-killing way, and it is a medal.

The movie begins with a funeral, but it does not end with a funeral. The young pastor said: "I learned life and death." What did he learn? At the end of the film, Tao drove his Gran Torino, who refused to change, on the road again, disappearing into the life journey of the sea and the sky. And Walt's soul was finally calm and reborn. When the poetic ending song slowly flows, I can't help asking myself, what is life and death?

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Extended Reading
  • Sharon 2021-10-20 18:58:49

    The last real cowboy. If Bai You can be like Father Eastwood, this world will become a beautiful world.

  • Cathy 2022-03-22 09:01:11

    The simple plot is very touching

Gran Torino quotes

  • Walt Kowalski: [Walt has just gotten Thao a job from his Irish friend] Come on, Zipperhead. We'll leave the mick here to play with himself.

  • Walt Kowalski: You got your whole life ahead of you, but for me, I finish things.