“Politically Correctness” and Clint Eastwood’s film “Gran Torino”

The film “Moonlight” won best picture at the 2017 Oscars. The story of this film is about a black LGBT boy, who grew up in a tough environment. Of course it is of great value to bring attention to such a life in order to eliminate discrimination. Black LGBT people are a quite minority, but at least attention has been paid to them.

Clint Eastwood’s film “Gran Torino” is about Hmong immigrants and an old Polish man living alone in Detroit. Hmong people is an ethnic group from mountain area of Chine, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and many of them became refugees because of Vietnam War. I guess they would be most abandoned people in the USA.

Recently it was said that displaced white people supported Donald Trump in the presidential election, and the attention to them is increasing. Clint Eastwood made the film “Gran Torino” in 2008, when the attention to them wasn’t high. Even now the situation of Hmong people isn’t well known at all.

In the interview by Esquire magazine Clint Eastwood said as follows.

When I did Gran Torino, even my associate said, "This is a really good script, but it's politically incorrect." And I said, "Good. Let me read it tonight." The next morning, I came in and I threw it on his desk and I said, "We're starting this immediately." 

CLINT AND SCOTT EASTWOOD: NO HOLDS BARRED IN THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW TOGETHER

I wonder why “Gran Torino” is “politically incorrect”. I could understand that “Gran Torino”, whose story was about Hmong people and an old Polish man, would not make a profit, but why is it “politically incorrect?”

In this interview Clint Eastwood also said, “Secretly everybody's getting tired of political correctness.” If “politically correctness” prevents the film about most abandoned people, what is “politically correctness” worth?

I don’t support Donald Trump, but at the same time I feel that “politically correctness” is quite shallow.

Martina and Chris: A Real Friendship

I watched a documentary on TV called “unmatched” about the relationship between Martina Navrátilová and Chris Evert.

They were top tennis players in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, and they competed for the grand slum title countless times.

They were complete opposites. Martina said on the documentary, “Chris was the girl-next-door, but I was a muscular lesbian from a communist country.” They played tennis very differently. Martina always tried to rush to the net and Chris tried to make a passing shot on the baseline.

It is interesting that both their outsides and insides were in contrast to each other. Although Chris looked the girl-next-door, she was full of fighting spirit and cool on a court. Martina, on the other hand, was physically strong, and mentally vulnerable. Martina was hurt by being treated as if she was an evil when she played against Chris.

In the documentary, they talked to each other quite intimately, and they appeared to trust each other deeply. In her prime, Martina thoroughly beat Chris. Chris said, “Unfortunately she played better than I.” But Martina said, “Chris always covered for me, when the press criticized me.”

The documentary shed new light on their true friendship under the myth. It might be worth watching it, unless you're not a fan of tennis.

I Wanna Do Something about It: My Impression of the film "Beginners"

I watched the film "Beginners" on DVD.



The main character, Oliver, who was played by Ewan McGregor, had just lost his father. His father had lost his wife four years ago, and then he came out that he was gay.

When his father and mother married, homosexuality was thought to be an illness. His mother proposed to his father and said, "I will cure you," and he decided to accept her proposal.

But, of course, his "illness" wasn't cured, and he realized that he wasn't ill.

When he came out, he also said, "I wanna do something about it," and he actually did many things about it: he made a boyfriend, joined a gay association, enjoyed parties, and participated in Gay Pride Parade. He had lived as a gay for four years and passed away with his boyfriend and gay associates.

I think that it is really wonderful for anyone to realize what they, themselves, are and to actually do something about it actually, no matter how old they are. If my father does so, I must be proud of him.

And I, myself, wanna do something about it.

Gay Marriages and Cultures

I heard news about the President Obama supported gay marriage. I think that he is brave to do so, even if he is aware of the election.

"Obama says gay marriage stance ‘the right thing to do,’ courts women, gay, young voters in NYC" Washington Post By Associated Press, Published: May 15

I have written previously about the gay society in Japan.

"Everyday Life in Shinjuku 2-chome: Gay People Aren't Special at All"

Of course there is discrimination against gay people and some people hate them, but generally speaking Japanese society is relatively tolerant of gay people, because our religion has never prohibited homosexuality and Japan have a long tradition of homosexuality, which is called "衆道 shudo".

In the U.S., the problem with gay marriage is deeply related to Christianity and it's always quite dangerous to state about the problems of religion, because some people are intolerant.

I think that the system of PACS in French is quite a wise solution to this problem.

"Civil solidarity pact" Wikipedia

PACS has secularized marriage. A gay couple can have almost the same rights as a married heterosexual couple without coming into conflict with the religious principles of Christianity.

I don't know why, but in Japan most people and politicians have no interest in the issue of gay marriage. As I wrote, Japan has had the long tradition of homosexuality, but it has been completely outside of marriage. They couldn't even imagine a marriage between same sex partners.

I heard that some gay couple in Japan became a father and a son in law because they wanted to ensure the succession of property to each other. If they lived in French, they must use PACS.

But even PACS doesn't allow any consanguineous marriage, bigamous marriage and plural marriage. If they are consensual, I can't understand what is the problem is.

I support gay marriage, consanguineous marriage, bigamous marriage and plural marriage!

Sherlock Loved John H.

In order to decide if I wanted to watch the movie "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows", I rent Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" at a DVD rental store.

I enjoyed it very much. The images in the movie were stylish and I laughed at the cynical English jokes.

I love "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch". After he got married with Madonna, well, I don't want to talk about it. And then after he got divorced, he began to make cool movies again.

There are the people called Sherlockian, who study very small details of Sherlock Holmes stories. One of their biggest study subjects is the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Some Sherlockian insists that Dr. Watson is female. I've read the theory that Holmes was female.

But I think that Holmes was gay and loved Dr. Watson, and Dr. Watson was so obtuse that he didn't notice Holmes' love for him. I'd like to prove my theory by analyzing quotes from "the sign of four."

Dr. Watson fell in love with Miss Mary Morstan, and at the end of the story, they were engaged. I'll quote the scene, where Miss Morstan, Dr. Watson, and Holmes rode a carriage by invitation of some unknown person.

He leaned back in the cab, and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome, but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of journey.

Dr. Watson fell in love with Miss Morstan at first sight. Holmes must have noticed it, because he was quite sharp. Dr. Watson and Miss Morstan were talking with each other with a pleasant atmosphere, while Holmes was just silently fuming.

You might think that this passage wouldn't be enough evidence that Holmes was angry. How about the next scene?

"Look here, Watson; you look regularly done. Lie down there on the sofa, and see if I can put you to sleep."

He took up his violin from the corner, and as I stretched myself  out he began to play some low, dreamy, melodious air, ― his own, no doubt for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs, his earnest face, and the rise and fall of his bow. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound, until I found myself in dream-land, with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me.

Holmes played the violin with heart in order to make Dr. Watson sleep well, but Dr. Watson went to "dream-land" with Miss Morstan. How poor Holmes was!

The next morning, Dr. Watson said to Holmes that he wanted to visit to Miss Morstan!

"Well, of course Miss Morstan too. They were anxious to hear what happened."

"I would not tell them too much," said Holmes. "Women are never to  be entirely trusted, ― not the best of them."

I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. "I shall be back in an hour or two," I remarked.

"All right" Good luck! "

How obtuse Dr. Watson was! Last night, he fell asleep hearing Holmes' playing the violin, but he had never noticed Holmes love for him at all. If he noticed it and ignored it, he must have been so cold blooded.

Although he would say, "I shall be back in an hour or two," he would never come back so soon when he met with Miss Morstan.

It was evening before I left Camberwell, and quite dark by the time I reached home. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair, but he had disappeared. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note, but there was none.

"I suppose that Mr. Sherlock Holmes has gone out," I said to Mrs. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds.

"No, sir. He has gone to his room, sir. Do you know, sir,"" sinking her voice into an impressive whisper, "I am afraid for his health?"

"Why so, Mrs. Hudson?"

"Well, he's that strange, sir. After you was gone he walked and he walked, up and down, until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering, and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead, with 'what is that, Mrs. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room, but I can hear him walking away the same as ever. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine, but he turned on me, sir, with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the room."

"I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy, Mrs. Hudson," I answered. "I have seen him like this before. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless."

He said, "some small matter"! Your obtuseness was guilt, Dr. Watson.

And then I'll quote the very tragic last scene.

"Well, and there is the end of our little drama," I remarked, after we had set some time smoking in silence. "I fear that it may be the last investigation in which I shall have the chance of studying your method. Miss Morstan has done me the honor to accept me as a husband in perspective."

He gave a most dismal groan. "I feared as much," said he. "I really cannot congratulate you."

I was a little hurt. "Have you any reason to be dissatisfied with my choice?" I asked.

"Not at all. I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met, …　But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest bias my judgment."

...

"The division seems rather unfair," I remarked. "You have done all the work in this business. I get a wife out of it, Jones gets the credit, pray what remains for you?"

"For me," said Sherlock Holmes, "there still remains the cocaine bottle." And he stretched his long white hand up for it.

What a tragedy! Holmes knew the end from the beginning, but he couldn't do anything but just saying, "I really cannot congratulate you." And Dr. Watson was happy in an innocent way.

I wrote an entry about "Kiss of the Spider Woman". I think that this novel is one of the masterpieces about tragic love of gay people. But "The Sign of Four" is as tragic as "Kiss of Spider Woman.

At the end of story, only cocaine was left for Sherlock.