Gran Torino

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLdIKlXl3ZA

This is my favorite scene from one of my favorite movies, Gran Torino.  Walt Kowalski is a bitter old man and a Korean War veteran who has just lost his wife. The world has changed around him as well. His once all-white neighborhood is now mostly Southeast Asian and he has a Hmong family living next door. He doesn't get along with his own family, all of whom seem more interested in getting his house than anything else. His pride and joy, however, is his mint condition 1972 Gran Torino. When the Hmong teenager who lives next door, Thao, is threatened by his cousin and other local gang members to steal it, Walt almost shoots him. Gradually, however, he realizes he has more in common with his neighbors than his own family and becomes something of a neighborhood hero when he prevents the gangbangers from forcing Thao into their car. He takes Thao under his wing, teaching him a few things about life and helps getting him a job. Walt's intervention has a price, however, when the gang shoots up Thao's house and attack his sister Sue. Walt decides to take things into his own hands, but not in the way you would think.

This movie raises concern for innercity gang violence. I'm sure its very hard for kids like these to escape the gangs, considering it is pretty much all they have sometimes. Its also kinda sad that Thao feels like he has to be like his cousin in order to "be a man".