Erin Gruwells passion to become a teacher is soon challenged by a
group of Black, Latino, and Asian gangbangers who hate her even
more than each other. When Erin begins to listen to them in a way
no adult has ever done, she begins to understand that for these
kids, getting through the day alive is enough they are not
delinquents but teenagers fighting a war of the streets that began
long before they were born. Erin gives them something they never
had from a teacher before - respect.
Though "Freedom Writers," based on a true story, squeezes a few
streams of tears from audience members, it thrives on racial
stereotyping and overuses heartfelt confessional moments. The
message is poignantthe film discusses the impact of gang violence
and the idea that integration is often undermined by
self-segregationbut the film is clichéd and unrealistic.
Though Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, is technically
integrated, kids never wander outside of racial boundaries"Little
Cambodia," "The Ghetto," "Wonderbreadland" or "South of the
Border." When Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) comes to Wilson as a
first year English teacher in 1994, she finds her class full of
troubled teenagers and an administration still bitter over the open
enrollment policy that caused their standardized test scores to
plummet.
On the day that marks Erin's abrupt change from meek teacher to
intense revolutionary, she discovers a caricature of a black
student with oversized lips that another student drew. She
confronts her students about their racist behaviors and is met with
customary resentment. How could this white woman relate to our
situation, their misunderstood teenage minds are thinking.
NOW SHOWING
Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/freedomwriters/trailer1/
Official Website: http://www.freedomwriters.com/
