The film’s protagonist is a withdrawn, hot-tempered Korean War veteran. The war has left an indelible psychological shadow on him, making him a silent old man, full of suspicion and anger towards the world around him.
When a group of Asian immigrants move into his neighborhood, he stops the gangs from bullying the Asian Hmong sisters and brothers in his neighborhood, which gradually builds up a friendship with them. He also changes his prejudice and hostility towards his Hmong neighbors, and unwittingly completes his inner self-redemption.
2008 / USA Germany / Drama / Clint Eastwood / Clint Eastwood Christopher Carley
Walter Kowalski (Clint Eastwood), a retired veteran Ford plant worker who fought in the Korean War, lives alone in a low-income Asian immigrant neighborhood in small-town Michigan after the death of his wife.
The neighbors are a large Hmong family, and one of the siblings catches Walter’s attention.
The older sister, Sue (Ahney Her), is a good-humored conversationalist who gradually becomes friends with the stubborn and somewhat racist older Walter; the quieter brother, Thao (Bee Vang), has been forced by his distant cousins to join the local Hmong gang, and in his first action is assigned to steal a 1972 Ford classic car that Walter regards as his treasure! The first operation is assigned to steal a 1972 Ford that Walter considers a prized possession.
After failing to steal the car, Thao is forced by his family to work for Walter to atone for his sins, but he never expects to form a deep friendship with Walter.
But when a local Hmong gang refuses to stop, what should Walter do for the safety of Sue and Thao and for the peace of the community? This movie was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song (“Oldsmobile”).
