Walter fought in the Korean War as a young man and killed quite a few people, notably he mentioned that he killed 13 unarmed prisoners in their teens. And the old car that was as strong as him was also his reward in this war, and the medal that accompanied him to escape death. Those who have lived through cruel wars leave a shadow in their hearts, become heavy with sin, and struggle to hold back their thirst for blood. Just like Tao asked Walter more than once in the film, "What does it feel like to kill?" The old man who had experienced that feeling many times just told him "you don't want to know" with a tired face, presumably Walter himself didn't know how. It is good to say, he feels that seeing blood is a pleasure, but the instantaneous pleasure is exchanged for eternal burden. Can't tell the truth, can't let the boy repeat his old ways.
The old tough guy is the only old white man in the film, just like that old 1972 Ford car represents a bygone American era, when people his age, including his dearest wife, have already not. There is no one who understands him, and no one is willing to understand him, not to mention that this stubborn old man lives in a community full of immigrants, how can he easily let people understand him. It was also an opportunity. Walter met Tao, taught the child the skills to earn a living, and helped him find a job. In addition to passing the time for himself, he might have wanted to keep what he had in his era from being lost, including that. The last gift of a classic car to this child probably means the same.
After many contacts, the old man still felt awkward, but still accepted the Asian family, but because of this, he provoked local gangsters. Maybe it was just because of the military's sense of mission at first, but later he saw that he really cared about the family, so he stood up for them later, and even died. To be honest, when Walter fell, tears rolled in my eyes, but they didn't fall. It's not because it's not sad enough, because it can't be said to be sad or not, he himself knows the result, and he feels that his era no longer exists. There may be no meaning of his existence in this world. His wife is not there, and the children are living well and will not worry about it. Except for the child, he will definitely be sad and cry, but this is helpless, at least he is very smart for the child. The road was paved, the rest of the road he left, the child walked for him, he had nothing to worry about, and all the crimes in the first half of his life were redeemed at that moment.
Tao drives a classic car with Daisy on the endless asphalt, as Walter must have wanted in the first place.
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