'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood - opening sequence 'screenplay'

-











Black and white film titles. ‘Gran Torino’ theme is played slowly and mournfully on electric guitar and piano.

Sounds of birdsong, daylight, long shot of chapel, cars parked outside, church music played on organ.

Volume of music increases. Interior, low angle shot of organist, stained glass behind.

High angle shot of congregation crowded at front of church. A coffin sits before altar.

Tracking shot follows old man as he walks past coffin and photograph of elderly woman.

As camera continues to track with old man, he talks to taller, serious-looking, suited man (Walt Kowalksi / Clint Eastwood) who is standing beside the coffin.

 

OLDER MAN      I'm real sorry about Dorothy, Walt. She was a real peach.

 

Reverse shot of man almost from Walt’s POV                                  

       

WALT           Thanks for coming, Al.

 

There is another low angle shot of Walt, which makes him look imposing. He is looking serious. It is his wife’s funeral. He looks up as other mourners arrive.

 

A shot from Walt’s POV shows number of kids (Walt’s grandchildren) are seen kneeling and crossing themselves, before entering the pews.

 

Walt nods, but then he is seen lifting his head slightly.

 

Another shot from Walt’s POV shows that he is looking at a young girl’s bare midriff. She has her belly button pierced.

 

A zoom of Walt shows his disapproval and he makes a vague groaning noise – in his mind the girl is inappropriately dressed for the funeral.

 

A medium shot of the girl shows she makes disinterested eye contact with Walt.

 

A close-up of Walt shows him looking at the next young person, a boy.

 

We see Walt’s POV of the boy as he crosses himself and says:

       

BOY            Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch

 

There is the sound of the kids laughing as we see Walt in close-up. He is angry. His eyes move to his sons.

The next shot tracks across in front of the sons as they talk about Walt.

Walt's sons, MITCH and STEVE, watch their father from their pew.

 

MITCH          Look at the Old Man glaring at Ashley. He can't even tone it down at Mom's funeral?

 

STEVE          What do you expect? Dad's still living in the ‘50s. He expects his granddaughter to dress a little more modestly.

 

MITCH          Well your kid's wearing a Lions jersey. I'm sure Dad appreciates that.

 

STEVE          The point I’m trying to make is there's nothing anyone can do that won't disappoint the Old Man. It's inevitable.

 

Mid-shot of Walt standing alone.

Back to tracking shot of sons.

 

STEVE          That's why we stopped doing Thanksgivings. You know that deal with the boat motor, the broken bird bath, it's always something.

 

MITCH          What are we going to do with him? Don't you think he'll get in trouble by himself over in the old neighbourhood?

 

STEVE          Why don't you have him move in with you? (chuckles)

 

MITCH          Ha ha.

 

They realise they should not be laughing.

Close-up of Walt. He has a bad cough.

Return to low angle shot of organist playing.

As music stops, in long shot, young priest in white enters and stands behind lectern.

 

FATHER JANOVICH Death... is often a bittersweet occasion to us Catholics.

 

Mid-shot of Walt’s sons, his daughter-in-law and Walt sitting in front row.

Another shot pans up as an old woman enters the church.

 

FATHER JANOVICH Bitter in the pain, sweet in the salvation. Bitter in the pain…

 

Long shot of Father Janowich standing between two candles at lectern.

 

FATHER JANOVICH …it causes the deceased... and their families…

 

Mid shot of Walt’s son, wife and Walt, with slight zoom to Walt as he half turns round towards his grandchildren.

       

FATHER JANOVICH …Sweet to those who know the salvation that awaits…

 

Mid-shot of priest at lectern. He is very young compared with Walt.

       

FATHER JANOVICH …And some may ask, what is death?...

 

Tracking shot of older members of congregation

 

FATHER JANOVICH …Is it the end?...

 

Mid shot of priest looking towards Walt.

       

FATHER JANOVICH …Or is it the beginning?

 

Mid shot of Walt.

 

FATHER JANOVICH …And what is life?

 

Mid-shot of priest

 

FATHER JANOVICH …What is life? What is this thing we call life?...

 

Tracking shot to Ashley, playing on her phone. Phone BEEPS.

 

FATHER JANOVICH …All these questions can frustrate you at times like this…

 

KAREN (Walt’s daughter-in-law) Ashley, stop it!

 

FATHER JANOVICH …And that’s why you have to turn to the Lord…

 

Camera zooms from mid-shot to close-up of Walt’s snarling face

 

WALT           (growls) Jesus!

 

FATHER JANOVICH …because the Lord is the sweetness.

 

 

End of sequence

Popular posts from this blog

Walt Kowalski - character development in 'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood

-
The following item gives an account of the development of the character of Walt Kowalski in 'Gran Torino'. Reading it may be useful in understanding the sorts of things you could explain in a critical essay. Also, the development of the character of Walt is important in the film, because it goes hand in hand with the development of his relationship with Thao and the development of the theme of respect. Clearly, since this is taken from the internet, it cannot be copied. This would be plagiarism.. A film in which there is a character who becomes a hero is ‘Gran Torino’, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The story is set in modern day Detroit, where the central character, Walt Kowalski, a retired car plant worker and Korean War veteran, struggles to come to terms with the changes in his community. In particular, the plot revolves around his unlikely friendship with Thao, a teenage boy from a Hmong immigrant family. The first time we see Walt is a close up of h
Read more

'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood - analysis of 'sacrifice' sequence

-
Image
Below is an example of how someone wrote about 'Gran Torino'. It is an old essay, it answers a specific question, it does not use the PEAR paragraph and it is also very long - you only have forty-five minutes - nonetheless, it may be useful to have a look at it, to get some ideas. Remember that, because this essay appears on the internet, copying it is plagiarism. . Choose a scene or sequence from a film which is particularly dramatic. Describe what happens in the scene or sequence, explaining how the film makers effectively use techniques to create drama. A film in which there is a particularly dramatic sequence is ‘Gran Torino’, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The story is set in modern day Detroit, where the central character, Walt Kowalski, a retired car plant worker and Korean War veteran, struggles to come to terms with the changes in his community. In particular, the plot revolves around his unlikely friendship with Thao, a teenage boy from a
Read more

'Gran Torino' dir. Clint Eastwood - 'sacrifice' sequence 'screenplay'

-
Image
Evening – It is dark. Low level shot of gang’s flats. Virtually Walt’s point of view. Reverse shot of Walt approaching flats. Sound of crickets, dog barking and people within buildings. Closer shot of flats. Blind moves. Smokie exits door to top of steps, followed by Spider. Smokie and Spider’s point of view shot of Walt.             WALT            Any swamp rats in there? Long shot from behind Walt           SMOKIE           I didn’t think your ass would have came...           WALT           Shut up, gook!   Medium shot of Smokie and Spider Low angled long shot of Walt. Reverse shot – another door opens. Back to low angle reverse shot of Walt.                      WALT           I got nothing to say to you, shrimp d**k midget like you.   Walt’s point of view of Smokie and Spider. Spider pulls his PISTOL. Shot of someone watching from shadows of a balcony. Low angle long shot of Walt.             WALT           Yeah, yeah. Watch out for your boyfriend  
Read more