Intergenerational relationships and construction of masculinities. Thinking with “Gran Torino” and “Million Dollar Baby”

Abstract

Based on a narrative approach to subjectivity (Ricoeur, 1994; White y Epston, 2002; Clandinin, 2013), we analyse two Clint Eastwood's movies, "Million Dollar Baby" (2005) and "Gran Torino” (2008). The movies present a male character (Eastwood himself) in the role of a hegemonic masculinity that he will be forced to question as a consequence of the relationships he has with Maggie (Hilary Swank), an obstinate amateur boxer with a complex family story, and Tao (Bee Vang), an Asian teenager pressured by a youth gang. Eastwood’s characters will resist accepting the responsibility of taking care of both teenagers. However, the development of the plots will show us the way in which he ends up accepting "his place" as an adult of reference, re-signifying his subjectivity as a man. Based on the statements of Recalcati (2014; 2015; 2016) we will propose a parallel analysis between both films about intergenerational relationships and masculinities.