Stereotypes, racist slurs, labels and norms are seen and used daily and can be observed in virtually every aspect of life, from race to religion. These aspects are used repeatedly in the popular film “Gran Torino”. Clint Eastwood plays the raunchy character Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran whose memories of the war continue to haunt him. His values ​​and beliefs lead him to judge others he meets. He doesn't seem to get along with anyone in his decaying Detroit neighborhood, but an unlikely bond with his Hmong neighbors leads him to redemption, coming face to face with the same catastrophic prejudices that consume the community gang members who consumed him . At the beginning of the film Walt attends his wife Dorothy's funeral. He finds himself bombarded by the young father, Janovich, who informs Walt that he is there to grant Dorothy's wish, which involves her husband confessing. Walt responds by insulting and mocking the Father by stating, "I never really cared about church and I only went because of it." Then he goes on to insult him further by saying: "I wouldn't confess to a guy who just left the seminary." This statement provides the viewer with labeling, there are also obvious cultural differences in this scene, which include age, religion, and identity which obscure both Father and Walt's realization of each other. Their cultures are very different, which makes conversation difficult. Communication between people is more effective when the other person we are talking to corresponds to the identity that we consider most crucial in this moment. Walt distinctly does not think that Fathe... middle of paper... Affirms structural-functional theory, the framework for building theory that sees society as complex whose parts work together to promote stability and solidarity. This statement couldn't be more true when talking about the film Gran Torino. From the beginning of the film to the end you see a character evolve from a racist, selfish and ignorant individual to a sympathetic individual. All aspects of society such as religion, race, and culture are truly what make the world go round. If Walt had never been able to put aside his cultural background, opinions, and beliefs, he would never have had the opportunity to experience Hmong culture. This just goes to show that perhaps if people made more of an effort to get to know each other through the sociological perspective, perhaps people would be more accepting of each other, which in turn would make society stronger..