Gran Torino and the Hmong perspective
If you want to see a good movie this weekend I sincerely recommend you to go out and see Gran Torino, a movie directed and featuring Clint Eastwood.
This movie has many intricate links to Laos. The movie tells the story of a disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski who ends up coaching his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager.
The movie opens at his wife’s funeral. Walt’s kids are a sore disappointment to him and are mostly interested in themselves. His grand kids portray the typical superficial American teenagers who care more about inheriting granddad’s car than granddad himself.
Walt is part of implacable American isolationism. That is, until he comes into contact with his Hmong neighbors. Then the story enfolds as a great story of two clashing cultures who ultimately will learn to appreciate each other.
I have read a few reviews and I also saw a few tubers announcing this movie as the new Dirty Harry. It most certainly is not. There is violence in this movie but the main story line is about two cultures that meet in rough terrain and both desire a part of the other culture.
The Hmong family needs the knowledge and path to the regular American life, without the gang violence and highly repressive Hmong traditionalist views that are holding them back. For Walt, he finds the warm family life in his Hmong neighbors he so craves but never got from his own family. This particular theme was played out in a very skilled and refined way by director Eastwood.
Great role for Ahney Hey (picture) who makes the famous quote: ” Hmong guys end up in jail, Hmong girls end up in college“. I don’t now how much of that is true but I thought it was a quote worth mentioning.
Go and see that movie. It’s worth your time!
Instead of Ahney Hey, it could have been a guy in that role and the famous quote might have been “Hmong girls end up in p**n* movies, Hmong guys end up in college”
Wow, a new film by Clint Eastwood. Will definitely check the movie out. Ku lu koh heng heng.
It’s wonderful that Hmong People are being notice, but I did not recall any Hmong last name “Hey” at all. What nationality is she?
I agree with TheoBouyeri on her quote!!!! hehehehehe
This movie has influenced the world to see another perception. Hmong women are very successful. As you compare it to Laotians, Hmongs are doing their best in society. The gang rate has decreased and on the other hand, other south east Asians are increasing their rates in gang violence. I’m proud of this ethnic group. They’ve struggle but they’re getting there.
Wost movie I’ve seen. Bad supporting actors/actresses. Hmong are not all about gangs. They made the old men in the movie useless! Those old men were the ones who held M-16 during the 60s,70s Vietnam War.
If you think the old man in the movie is “worthless”, Anonymous, you really really have not understand anything of the powerful message he made.
Stick to Rambo and your Ninja movies. At least, no movies that require any brainwork since you seem to have difficulties processing that.