Gran Torino describes the transformation of a Vietnam veteran and the terrible events that happen in his predominantly Hmong neighborhood. He becomes a father figure to Thao, the neighbor boy, which later creates a conflict between the strict role of a young Hmong and how Tao wants to act. Nationality determines what products a person buys in this film, drawing a clear distinction between ethnicities with America as the hero. In Ford advertising, the Gran Torino car is a versatile symbol that has an alternative meaning for each character. Media consumption plays a secondary role when it is present. The film addresses social issues of racism, gender roles, and family throughout the entire runtime. Gran Torino uses product placement and symbols to communicate cultural messages within the plot. Nationality-focused advertising fills this film by connecting cultures with that nation's products. For example, Walt only drinks the American Pabst beer, and then the beer he then takes out of the refrigerator at the Hmong party is Tsingtao brewed in China. This distinction between brands is unconscious when it says “lots of beer but no Pabst”. If it had been an American beer he probably wouldn't have commented on the difference. However, although people tend to purchase products other than “ethnic” ones, there is no obvious deviation from Asian products by Hmong characters. The Hmong gang members drive a Honda and blast music by Buddah, a Hmong artist. The first half of the film focuses on drawing these lines of nationality through product placement. Asian products have less advertising and are frowned upon in Gran Torino. This strategy reinforces the power of American products in promoting the theme of “old school” Americanism. Cars the f... middle of paper ...... strives for consumers to draw multiple conclusions from scenes. Sue fights sexism while Thao embraces it. Gran Torino leaves family conflicts open, creating debris of “what if…?” requests. Gran Torino does not state the answer to these social questions but presents them as focal points to reflect on. Gran Torino relies on product placement and cultural symbols to build its plot. The division between genders, ethnicity and community develops awareness towards these delicate issues. Product placement is present at all levels within the film; highly visible products that convey a stronger message and less obvious ones that add atmosphere. The film advertises products to reinforce the story and build common ground with cultural representations. Works Cited Gran Torino. Eastwood, Clint. Dir. Burbank, California: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2009. DVD.