I always
felt that all Clint Eastwood films
are connected somehow. His stories are about redemption. Million dollar baby and Grand Torino portrait these message. I find
many parallels on both films; characters, plots, theme. There are, of course,
different aspects to be considered but there is always a floating connection;
prejudice.
In Grand Torino the main character; Eastwood, has great prejudice against
Koreans. Beside he thinks things must be done properly, his way, the only way.
This idea makes him a bitter man. Beside his recently deceased wife is the part
of his life he loves the most. His car in the movie is the embodiment of that
memory. He does all he can to keep that memory. After all it is all he got
left. Frankie Dum, in Million Dollar
Baby, on the other hand, hates training women. The prejudice this come does
not come from hate but from love. He already has lost a daughter. But he sees
his daughter in Maggie( Hillary Swank).
Boxing is a dangerous sport and he can´t put her in a situation of danger.
The forced contact on both films changes him completely. He´s exposed to the Korean culture, and enjoys their neighbor´s company very much. He finds outs that many of his conceptions were false. In Million Dollar Baby, he sees his strength in Maggie; always training to get a better boxer. He admires her dedication. Then he decides to train her.
Through love he does not feel the emptiness on his soul
anymore. He´s some sort of stability in Thao´s life- Grand Torino- bringing stability and peace to his own existence.
For the first time since his wife passed away, he finds people he can connect
with.
Maybe the
message that both movies send is that in order to find some sort of happiness
we need to surround ourselves with people who cares for us. Unless before
tragedy strikes. On both films tragedy
unfolds in a different way. In Grand Torino is like a slow escalation.
Shock, however, comes in the end.
Redemption comes from making the right decision
in times of adversity.
Frankie put Maggie out of her misery in Million Dollar Baby. She earns her
legacy. In Grand Torino, Walt Kowalski- Eastwood- sacrifices himself to protect
Thao´s life. This way, he cleans up the streets. So Thao can lead the life he
always wanted. Both characters exits the films better men that when they
entered. I have to confess that every time I see an Eastwood film, I leave the
theater a better men that when I entered.
¡Thanks a lot Clint!
Sergio
Calle Llorens
