Freedom Writers Review

Bottom-Line: The Freedom Writers is worthwhile because it tells a true story that's well worth telling, because it is (mostly) honest...

Ignorance: lack of knowledge or education. Ignorance (and the hatred it give birth to) is at the root of racism and bigotry and the source of so much human strife and suffering.  In the case of The Freedom Writers (2007) ignorance led to misconceptions, lack of understanding and condemnation of a group of (colored) kids no one wanted to teach.  And ignorance led the children themselves to mistrust everything and everyone around them.  But in the end knowledge and understanding, tolerance and acceptance, and the selflessness of one teacher who believed in them tempered ignorance enough for them to succeed. 

My Viewpoints

The Freedom Writers gets its name from the book the students put together based on the diaries Ms. Gruwell had the student keep.  The book called The Freedom Writers Diary-a New York Times Best Seller-was published in 1999 chronicles the teens thoughts, lives, fears, and dreams. 

The movie is inspirational and shines a light on the many factors can and do affect learning in American schools.  Erin through her selflessness has something to teach all of us about intolerance and pre-conceived notions and or perceptions about people based on skin color and or ethnic background.  She taught her students what we should all teach our children; that we all have baggage, it how we choose to carry it that will dictate your success or failure in life.  Brilliant! 

Hillary Swank did an excellent job as the traditionally educated prim and proper idealist in a smart suit and pearls; she is utterly convincing as a smart, square, but clearly naïve White woman who initially struggles to reach and control, let alone teach and gain, the respect of her diverse class of Blacks, Hispanics, Asians one (token) White kid. 

Of course this territory has been before by a myriad of films, including To Sir, With Love (1967), Stand and Deliver (1988), Dead Poets Society (1989), Dangerous Minds (1995), and Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), but one can never have enough movies about uplifting human drama.  And The Freedom Writers is worthwhile because it tells a true story that's well worth telling, because it is (mostly) honest, and because the delightful Ms. Swank and company have done it so well.