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.  Walt is able to rework his isolated, distant mind to incorporate new cultures by stepping outside his comfort zone and not being closed off the world outside him.  

The development of friendships with young people allows for Walt to mature.  He lives next door to an Asian family who at first he despises, but through his friendship with the son, Tao, he changes his mind.  In the beginning of Gran Torino, the shots are of Walt looking down on Tao.  Whether it is 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 him 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 of 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.  Although they are divided, it is not as it was in the beginning.  Walt uses his power to keep Tao down to protect him.  This divide represents Walt’s willingness to stand up for Tao and his family as if they were his own even if they are different races.  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 closeminded 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 sitting 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.  The fact that Walt is a Vietnam Veteran and his neighbors are of Asian decent it makes only furthers his distrust.  Walt was trained to hate the people he was fighting against at war and the Vietnam War was one of the most horrific in American history.  Walt has carried that hatred throughout his life and refused to give people of Asian background a chance.  However, the slow progression of his acceptance breaks down his isolation and builds up his confidence to embrace the Hmong culture and its people.

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.  In the beginning of the film they clash heavily and it is evident that it has been that way for some time.  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.  Previously Walt was shot from above looking down on his Hmong neighbors so the change in eye level signifies Walt gaining respect for his neighbors.  He is surrounded by Hmong women who are feeding him all of their traditional foods while Walt is laughing and enjoying himself.  Walt truly lets his guard down in this scene by allowing himself to join in and accept the Hmong culture.  Not only does Walt accept his neighbors, but they greatly enjoy his company.  The two stubborn sides eating a meal together signifies their acceptance into each other’s lives.  The eating scene is symbolic of the breakdown of the cultural barriers.   

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 when he challenges his old ways of thinking.