Freedom Writers Review

Teaching high school students can be a very difficult undertaking. Parents have to be dealt with, discipline must be administered, and students' attention spans must be lengthened to make sure they pay attention and absorb the material presented to them. Add to that the problems associated with teaching high school students in an inner city school and you compound the situation to a point that would cause many teachers to throw their hands skyward in defeat. But there is one teacher in the Los Angeles area that was faced with exactly this situation and faced the challenge head- on. Her story is the basis for this film, Freedom Writers, a movie based on a true story.

Movie Commentary:

Actress Hilary Swank plays the lead role in this movie about a new teacher in an unfamiliar territory. The teacher is Erin Gruwell- a rookie educator who is anxious to prove herself to the world. Her ambitions have been put to the test in a most difficult way when she is accepted to teach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. Gruwell is a little green, but determined to prove that she can make a difference in the lives of young people.

When she meets the members of her class for the first time, Gruwell is shocked at the disorganization and chaos before her. Students refuse to sit next to students of other races. They routinely come and go from her class without asking. Fights break out over the pettiest issues. Gruwell is surprised at what she sees, but also determined to turn things around and make a difference.

Gruwell's students begin to come together and they slowly forget the differences among them and act as a cohesive family. Inspired by the Diary of Anne Frank, Gruwell decides to have her students keep a journal, or diary, of their daily lives and she gives them the option of placing their diaries in a locked cabinet so that she can read them. Most everyone leaves their diary for Gruwell to read, and this leads to a better understanding of what these kids are exposed to every day and their individual struggles to survive.

Many things make this movie memorable and chief among them is the inspirational story and the emotional grip that it keeps you in while you watch. This film is based on a true story and it is the type of drama that keeps you glued to your seat. You expect a positive ending, but you don't really know how the director will get there, adding some suspense to the viewing. Then, there is the shock and emotion. The lives these kids lead are far from ordinary, involving gunshots, drugs, strained relations with family, distrust of outsiders, and underachievement in academics. The stories the kids tell in their diaries and the actual drama they experience is scary, but very real. Their stories add plenty of drama and raw emotion to the film and keep viewers in the movie's grip.

Performances in this film are excellent, and that includes not only Hilary Swank (like expected) and Patrick Dempsey, but also the performances from the young actors and actresses playing the students. These are not professional performers. Most of them had no prior experience before playing their respective roles in this movie and while this might seem like an oversight on the part of the production crew, it actually adds to the reality of the movie. Rather than watch well- known actors and actresses attempt to play the parts, the viewer gets to witness actual teenagers portraying the students in a very realistic way. I also like the extras on the DVD (eight total) and I recommend watching The Story Behind the Story, Making a Dream, and Freedom Writers Family in order to learn more about Erin Gruwell and the students she has inspired.

Bottom Line:

Overall, Freedom Writers is an excellent movie about a young, idealistic teacher and her successful attempt to teach her students to open up, embrace their differences, and recognize their inner strength. It's an inspiring film that is certain to please anyone who has even the slightest interest in education and recognizes its importance to the well- being of future generations.