Gran Torino

Today at school, we watched the movie “Gran Torino”. It was released 2008, and Clint Eastwood, who plays the main character Walt Kowalski, is also the director. Walt Kowalski is a grumpy and old Korean war veteran, who recently was widowed after 50 years of marriage. He is full of prejudices, even though he lives in a neighborhood with many different cultures, among them his Hmong neighbor. Against his will, he becomes closer and closer with his Hmong neighbors, especially with the teenagers. He helps them many times, and in the end of the movie he sacrifices himself so the teenagers can live a safe and successful life

I was really fascinated by the main character Walt Kowalski’s way of being, and also his relationships with the other peoples in the movie. I have chosen to focus on this part of the film in this blog post.

The first important relationship we were introduced to is the relationship between Walt and the rest of his family. Walt’s two sons seemed to be irritated over their father, and they did not know exactly what to do with him, or how to reach to him. Later in the movie, Walt also admits to the priest during a confession that he does not know his own sons, and that he regrets it. The wives and kids of Walt’s sons only seemed to be after his money and belongings, but they are not interested in talking to him. They do not seem to know much about Walt, but he does not seem to know much about them either.  It is easy to see, that there is not a good relationship between Walt and his family. This is unlike any families I know, but I am sure that it is not uncommon that some have bad relationships with their family.

Another relationship that is important throughout the movie is the relationship Walt has with the priest. The priest promised Walt’s wife, before she died, that he would look after Walt, and make him come to a confession. At first Walt does not care for the priest, and demands that he calls him Mr Kowalski, and not Walt. During the movie, they become closer, because they learn to know and respect each other. They have a special relationship, due to the fact that it builds on a promise the priest made to Walt’s wife. They become closer, but they never become very close.

The only person in the movie it seemed like Walt was friend with already was his barber. They also had a special and interesting relationship. They called each other such things as “crazy Italian prick” and “cheap bastard”, and it is easy to see they both have a lot of prejudices. Although it is hard for an out stander, like Thao, to understand the way their friendship works, and it can seem like they dislike each other. It might be a bit inappropriate to talk to each other that way with other people around, but if it is only those to around it is more appropriate. Other people might misunderstand it, but when all the individuals are okay with the language, and think that it is funny to talk to each other in such manor then it is appropriate.

Probably the most important relationship in the movie is the relationship Walt has with the neighbor teens. He first befriends the girl sue, and later he becomes really close to the boy Thao. Thao does not have father in his house, and Walt becomes a father figure, and he helps him get a job and improve his life. Walt wants Thao to become a man, and he helps him get the courage to ask out a girl. When they are going on the date, Thao does not have a car to get the girl, so Walt lets him borrow his beloved Gran Torino. This is the part in the movie where we see how deep the relationship between Walt and Thao is. The car was Walt’s most priced belonging, and still he lets Thao borrow it. This reminds me about when I was younger, and my grandfather let my brother and I play with, and look at his stamp collection. He had a big collection and he had collected for a very long time. Looking back at it now, I realize that to let other play with something that means a lot to you is a huge sign of trust.

There are examples in real life where people have sacrificed themselves for others like Walt did for Thao and Sue in the movie. In history class, we read about a woman who lived around year 900. Her name was Melkorka, and she was the daughter of the king of Ireland, but was kidnaped and bought by Iceland Viking chief at a slave marked.  She married a man she did not like, just so he could pay for her son to go back to Ireland and prove he is a royal. Her son goes back to Ireland and finds his grandfather and he receives high status and becomes a mighty chief. His mother on the other hand, stayed on Iceland for the rest of her life, with a man she did not like. This story comes from “The saga of Laksdøla”, or the original name “Laksdøl saga”. Melkorka sacrificed her life, just so her son did not have to be known as the son of a slave. She did this out of love for her son, just as Walt did for Thao and Sue in the movie. 

 

Here are the 5 questions I chose to answer in my blog post.

·         How would you describe Walt’s relationship with his family? Do you know of anyone that has a similar family relationship?

·         How would you describe the relationship between Walt and the priest? How does this relationship change during the movie?

·         Walt and his friend the barber have an interesting relationship. Do you think the way they talk to each other is appropriate or inappropriate? Why or why not? Do you think it is okay to speak the way they do if both individuals are okay with the language? Why or why not?

·         Towards the end of the movie, Walt offers for Thao to use the car for his date. Discuss the significance of this. Are their similar reallife situations in people’s lives? Have you ever been offered to use something that had great significance to somebody?

·         Can you think of real life examples of people who have sacrificed themselves for others? What drives these people to make this sort of sacrifice?


source: http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/gran_torino_a_conservative_movie/ 

Visit from our foreign minister Espen Barth Eide

This post is about the visit from former foreign minister Espen Barth Eide, a while back, but due to misunderstandings in the group, it is really late. I am really sorry, and I hope you, the reader, still find this post interesting.  

On Tuesday 03.09.13, Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs, visited our school. Espen Barth Eide held a presentation about Norway's foreign politics, and our role in the world, focusing on the conflict in Syria.

The Syria conflict
Espen Barth Eide started talking about the conflict in Syria, and the fact that Syria has used chemical weapons. He had sent a letter to the UN security-council, in cooperation with the other northern foreign-ministers, where they demanded that the UN respond to the use of chemical weapons. He then continued to talk about how the situation can develop. Espen Barth Eide then expressed the fear that if the other political parties becomes the new government, the Norwegian foreign participant will decrease.

Norway’s role in the world
At Barth Eide’s presentation he was told us he was concerned for Norway’s role in the world now that there is a chance for the conservative to win the election. That’s because he thinks that our role in the world will be much smaller if they win. Up to today Norway has “played” an important role in the world. In several occasions Norway has played the part as broker, for example in the negotiations between Israel and Palestine, the conflict on Sri Lanka and the conflict with FARC in Colombia among others. He also expressed his concerns for the possible new conservative government promise to cut much of development aid, the new government would probably also be much more EU oriented, and less UN oriented. So we can say as a fact that Norway’s role in the world will change, but if it will chance to the better or worse I don’t know, and you would have to decide for yourself.


Picture of Espen Barth Eide: http://norwegianafrican.no/news/espen-barth-eide-to-replace-trond-giske-at-the-naba-summit-2012 

Invictus

Today at school, we watched a movie called «Invictus», directed by Clint Eastwood. The story takes place in South-Africa. The movie starts in 1990 when Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) was released from Robbin-Island, and it ends when the South-African rugby team, wins the 1995 World Cup.

The movie is named after a British poem with the same name, and here is the poem.

Invictus  by William Earnest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be,

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond the place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul

 

Both Mandela and Francois were inspired by the poem in the way that even though how difficult the challenges might be, they will prevail. The comforting words inspire them to keep going and not to give up, even though the odds may not be in their favor. I interpret the meaning of the poem, that you are the boss of your own life. I believe that this poem made Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) think about his time in prison, and the fact that he had to fight to become what he is. Francois probably was inspired by everything Mandela had accomplished, and when he faced the challenges in the World Cup, I think the poem helped him not to give up, and fight even harder. The poem might not have been a major part of the storyline in the movie, but I believe it is important for the understanding of why both Mandela and Francois never gave up.

 

What did I learn in school today!

Today, we had the amazing opportunity of skyping with Jeremy Gilley. Jeremy Gilley is an English actor and filmmaker, but the reason we spoke with him, is because he is the founder of the charity “Peace one day”.  “Peace one day” is a non-profitable organization, who made 21.september the official world peace day.

You can watch our Skype call by clicking here.

The Skype call was very inspiring, and I could tell that he was engaged in his charity. The way he talked about how it all started, what they had done and the journey to where they are today, really showed how much he cared about his work. He seemed so proud of what they have accomplished, but also so eager to spread the word about “Peace one day” to even more people. I think that all his dedication and his “go-ahead spirit” is the reason he has managed to so much, and that can only be admired.
We got to ask him some questions. The first question was about what “Peace one day” actually was, but it seemed to me that Jeremy did not like that question that much. I think he felt that we should know that, after watching the video and listening to him in the beginning, but he explained it again anyway.

The next question was how he got the idea to found “Peace one day”. He said that he had often thought about people treated with injustice, and that had been the driving force of founding the charity.

I then got to ask him what he’s most memorable memory was. He stopped for some seconds, thinking and smiling, as if he remembered many good memories. He then told about the time when he saw Dalai Lama, and how he had been inspired by how much influence one man could have. He also told about some strong meetings with some children.

 

The assignments today, opened my eyes for “Peace one day”, a charity I did not know about from before. I was impressed by Jeremy’s eager and passion, and I was really inspired.  

A picture of us, skyping with Jeremy Gilley.

Thanks to Julia for posting the skype call:)