Often in film, characters of contrasting backgrounds create life altering friendships that are depicted through movie techniques.  In Gran Torino directed by Clint Eastwood, the main character Walt Kowalski, also played by Clint Eastwood, endures struggles that force him to crave companionship.  The fact that Eastwood both directs and stars as the main role pushing the film to the next level, allowing for a deeper connection between the techniques in the film and the development of the characters.  Walt’s closemindedness keeps him secluded from the growing world around him.  By the end of the film Walt finds closure in his life from the relationships he builds.  Through friendships, Walt reworks his isolated, distant mind to incorporate new cultures. 

The development of friendships with young people allows for Walt to mature.  In the beginning of Gran Torino, the shots are of Walt looking down on Tao.  Whether it be because Walt is on his porch looking down at him, or simply the camera angle is from behind Walt facing downward at Tao, Walt believes he is better than Tao simply because Walt is American born and Tao’s family is from China.  As the film progresses and Walt learns more about who Tao is as a person he changes his views on Tao and the camera angles slowly evolve to eye level during their interactions.  Because of his negative first impression on Tao, Walt needs him to prove his loyalty in order for them to have a friendship.  Although it takes weeks for their friendship to solidify, by the end of the film, Walt tells Tao, “You've come a long way. I'm proud to call you a friend. You have your whole life ahead of you, whereas this is what I do. I finish things”.  In this scene, Walt locks Tao in his basement and prepares to confront the gang that terrorizes Tao’s family.  This God shot depicts Walt looking down on Tao through the basement screen door, showing the separation of the two and Walt being higher up once again.  Tao is desperately looking up at Walt and pleading, but Walt is in the position of power during this scene.  There is only a thin screen between them but it represents a heavy divide between the two again, but this time it is because Walt gives his life for Tao and his family.  Through relationships, Walt is able to blossom into a more open minded, cultured human.

Prior to the development of his relationship with Tao, Walt’s patriotism caused him to be close minded and lonely.  After the loss of his wife, Walt shuts himself out from the rest of the world and is closed off to even his own children, often shot alone in his dark, shadowy house.  He is a Korean war veteran and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Walt is ashamed of his family because they are changing with the world around them while he is stuck in the 1950s.  He shuns everyone out of his life whose views do not match up precisely to his.  Walt’s patriotism pushes the line of racism, making it challenging for him to accept his Hmong neighbors, the only people left in his life.  He is often shot sitting alone on his porch with his American flag in front of him, representing his past of defending his country, eerily glaring at his neighbors and admiring his perfectly kept lawn.  Walt’s American flag is his security blanket and crutch for not welcoming his neighbors.  However, the slow progression of his acceptance breaks down his isolation and builds up his confidence to embrace the Hmong culture and its people.  Loneliness is a condition that Walt suffers from and it forces him to shut his mind off to the world.

Walt’s close-mindedness forces him to struggle to accept his neighbors Hmong culture.  He is as resistant to accepting the Hmong culture as the Hmong are to conforming to American society.  In Gran Torino, the Hmong do not want their family to be torn apart so they keep their old traditions and refuse to give up their heritage.  Walt’s patriotic views are the same as his neighbors: he refuses to accept any culture other than his own.  The two stubborn sides are eventually broken down when Walt goes to his neighbors for a barbeque and sees what the Hmong culture truly is, welcoming and generous.  The family gathering makes Walt appreciate the Hmong people.  There is an eating scene where Walt is shot at eye level sitting on a chair.  He is surrounded by Hmong women who are feeding him all of their traditional foods while Walt is laughing and enjoying himself.  The eating scene is symbolic of the breakdown of the cultural barriers.  

The music in Gran Torino depicts the effect Walt’s past has on his present life.  Every encounter Walt has with one of his guns is followed by war marching drums.  Walt is constantly reminded of the lives he took at war when he is forced to defend himself with one of his guns.  The music reflects his negative emotions towards his violent past; it incorporates a war band playing marching music on the drums, symbolizing that Walt’s past will stick with him forever.  The closing scene displays the impact of the character’s development through music.  Walt’s voice can be heard singing “Gran Torino” at the end of the film after he has been shot.  It signifies his acceptance of his past and of new cultures.  The music throughout the movie signifies the development of Walt’s growth as a human being.  

The friendships Walt makes cause him to accept new cultures despite his isolation.  Because he is physically secluded, Walt closes himself off emotionally as well and struggles to make connections with those around them.  The camera angles, eating scenes, symbols, and music depict Walt’s transformation throughout the movie as he opens himself up to his neighbors.  Eastwood is able to directly create the scene how he wants both from behind the camera and in front of it as Walt.  In Gran Torino directed by Clint Eastwood, Walt Kowalski breaks down his isolation and creates friendships that transform his life.