Masculinity In Gran Torino

The plot of “Gran Torino” revolves around Walt Kowalski (played by Eastwood), a Korean war veteran, a retired autoworker, and an extremely misanthropic and apparently deeply racist man. The film opens just after the death of Kowalski’s wife. His grandchildren are shallow and self-absorbed, and Kowalski has no interest in nor affection for them. His two grown sons are anti-Eastwood figures of masculinity: weak, ineffectual men, dominated by their shrewish, materialistic wives. He has no interest in bonding with his parish priest, another representation of weak, white masculinity. Kowalski is a loner and he likes it that way as he sits on his front porch, growling at people and drinking can after can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Kowalski