Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, who is mourning the loss of his wife but hasn’t much patience for those who come with sympathy, his sons or the young priest, Father Janovich (Christopher Carley), who offers a cheery attitude and urges that Kowalski come to confession. But Kowalski has no use for either the priest or the church. He also is bitter against the change in the neighborhood, especially the Hmong family living in the house next door. He rejects their effort to be friendly and freely tosses around racist epithets.

The screenplay has been written by Nick Schenk, based on a story by him and Dave Johannson. The plot begins to churn when gang violence erupts, with the pressure on the decent teenage boy next door, Thao Lor (Bee Vang) to rob Kowalski’s Gran Torino vintage car as a test for gang approval. Kowalski catches him, and what ensues is the development of a situation in which Kowalski begins to mentor the boy. Through that relationship and through the friendship with Thao’s outgoing sister Sue (Ahney Her), Kowalski’s racist attitudes break down and he learns something of his neighbors’ culture. It is an enlightening experience, which Eastwood the actor reveals with charm and even a measure of humor.

We know that the violence will escalate. Signs point to Kowalski’s desire to take revenge on the gang, but there is a matter of his being conflicted over the killing he has done in his military past and in his mature judgment he tries to figure out a resolution that works other than his being a replica of a Dirty Harry. He is also determined to protect young Thao.