Gran Torino: A Lesson in Character & Spiritual Arc

I went to see Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino last night and woke up thinking about it this morning. That’s when I know a movie or book has touched me forever, changed me for life. When I can’t stop thinking about the story and I can’t get the characters out of my mind.

When I picked the movie, I went on the five star ratings and one recommendation from a Twitter friend. I had no idea what the movie was about. I thought, “Clint Eastwood…make my day…guns…” How could I go wrong? It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Eastwood movie because I was waaaay off.

Sure, it had guns… and that “make my day” attitude, but the story went deeper.

Clint’s character, Walter, a racist, foul-talking, cantankerous old man, is not what you’d think of when you think of a hero in the context of story telling. But a hero he was in the end. I’m not going to give away any spoilers but I do want to share a few points.

1.  Walter’s use of foul-language and racism had a place in this gritty, gang-infested movie. It was raw and hard to listen to at times, but it wasn’t over done. The movie opens at his wife’s funeral, but Walter’s hardened disposition to life was well solidified before his wife’s death. Despite his in-your-face bigotry, you can’t help like the man. Mainly because those he’s “bigotring” can’t help like him. And that softens his character.

2. Little by little you see his redeeming qualities come out. Though still cantankerous and demeaning in speech, his actions betray his heart underneath. He’s growing as a character and touching the lives around him, the ones he’s putting down, in a profound and life changing way.

3. When the movie starts out, Walter wants nothing to do with God. But through the movie you see the struggle for his own redemption, though he claims to not need any. You see his struggle with his own sin and how, in the end, he plans on earning his forgiveness.

Though the story doesn’t give a Christian message that “there’s forgiveness in Christ alone,” it’s spiritual symbolism is touching and poignant. It’s a great example of how a gritty, ugly, story can present the gospel in a subtle but powerful way.

At least that’s how I saw it. How about you? If you saw the movie, what did you think? SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read the comments if you want to be surprised with is why this movie was so powerful for me!