Freedom Writers (2007)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Richard LaGravenese

Writers (WGA):

Richard LaGravenese (screenplay)
Freedom Writers (book) ...

Release Date:

5 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

our story. our words.

Plot:

A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. |

Plot Keywords:

High School | Teacher | False Accusation | Racial Slur | Dancing

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Hilary Swank	...	Erin Gruwell
Patrick Dempsey	...	Scott Casey
Scott Glenn	...	Steve Gruwell
Imelda Staunton	...	Margaret Campbell
April L. Hernandez	...	Eva Benitez (as April Lee Hernandez)
Mario	...	Andre Bryant
Kristin Herrera	...	Gloria Munez
Jaclyn Ngan	...	Sindy
Sergio Montalvo	...	Alejandro Santiago
Jason Finn	...	Marcus
Deance Wyatt	...	Jamal Hill
Vanetta Smith	...	Brandy Ross
Gabriel Chavarria	...	Tito
Hunter Parrish	...	Ben Daniels
Antonio García	...	Miguel

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violent content, some thematic material and language.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-11 | Norway:15 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles is featured in the film. Gruwell takes the students on a field trip to the museum. An exterior view of the museum is shown, and there are scenes inside the museum, showing simulated entrances to gas chambers in death camps.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie is set in the early to mid 90's. At this time Starbucks Coffee had not yet introduced the "Way I See It" cup, and would not do so for at least 7 years, yet Mrs. G is seen holding one when entering the classroom and while drinking her coffee in a few shots

Quotes:

Gloria: Miss Gruwell, he just took my damn bag!

Movie Connections:

References Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Soundtrack:

Summer In The City

Truly Moving Picture

I saw this film on December 13th, 2006 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival's Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

Woodrow Wilson High School is located in Long Beach, California. The school is voluntarily integrated, and it isn't working. The Asians, the Blacks, the Latinos, and a very few whites not only don't get along, but also stay with their own and are part of protective and violent gangs. There isn't much teaching or learning going on at the school. It is a warehouse for young teenagers until they can drop out or are kicked out.

With this background, an idealistic teacher (Hilary Swank) arrives to teach Freshmen English. She is very educated, pretty, middle class, non-ethnic, well-dressed, and smart. From day one, she doesn't fit in the classroom with these tough kids, and she doesn't fit in with the faculty, who have all but given up and resigned themselves to being the keepers of the student warehouse.

But our idealistic teacher will not give up. She slowly and painfully tries to teach by first learning about "…the pain…" the students feel. She encourages each of her students to keep a journal of their painful and difficult life, and then to share the journal with her. She also attempts to get the four ethnic groups to come together by getting them to recognize what they have in common; specifically, their music, their movies, their broken families, and their broken community surroundings.

While struggling with the students, she has to deal at the same time with two complicated and demanding male relationships. Her husband (Patrick Dempsey) is often supportive, but often jealous of her time commitments. Her father (Scott Glenn) is often disappointed of her career choice, but often proud of her courage and tenacity.

This story feels real. It is beautifully done. The acting of Swank, Dempsey and Glenn is professional and believable. More importantly the story highlights our society's challenges in schooling the children of poor and one-parent families.

The movie doesn't give miracle answers. But it does give hope. And in the end, sincere effort appears to count for something … maybe everything.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.