Freedom Writers is inspired by a true story and the diaries of real Long Beach teenagers after the LA riots. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) is a young woman whose passion to become a teacher is soon challenged by a group of students. Forced to work with the students Erin begins to understand that for these 'kids' getting through the day is enough - they are not delinquents but are fighting a war on the streets that began before they were born. Erin inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.
Directed by
Richard LaGravenese
Written by
Richard LaGravenese (screenplay); Erin Gruwell (book "The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them").
Starring
Hilary Swank (Erin Gruwell); Patrick Dempsey (Scott Casey); Scott Glenn (Steve Gruwell); Imelda Staunton (Margaret Campbell); April L. Hernandez (Eva (as April Lee Hernandez)); Mario (Andre); Kristin Herrera (Gloria); Jaclyn Ngan (Sindy); Sergio Montalvo (Alejandro); Jason Finn (Marcus); Deance Wyatt (Jamal); Vanetta Smith (Brandy); Gabriel Chavarria (Tito); Hunter Parrish (Ben); Antonio García (Miguel). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
Important: the following essays and comments are authored by Soul Food Cinema readers. Whilst the Editor prays for the spiritual integrity of all content of this site, it should be noted that these represent personal opinions and carry no official endorsement. If you consider any content to be a misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, please contact SFC. May God bless you and enlighten you in your reading.
-
Articles, Essays and Reviews
-
Please contact SFC if you are interested in submitting an essay on this film.
-
Readers' Comments and Opinions
-
Click the link to comment on this film. You may like to copy the film title and year (as given above) to your clipboard now for pasting into the following form.
-
Strikes a Good Balance in Telling a Good Story
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Recommended
I'm glad somebody had the wisdom and good heart to make Freedom Writers, as for me it succeeds where other similar films have failed in one respect or another. Boyz in the Hood was admirable and heart-felt but contained a few too many sexual references that I felt would do little in reality to deter black teens from engaging in promiscuous behaviour, and may in fact have the opposite effect. Do The Right Thing also failed on account of its sexual content and ambiguity of ending with respect to its overall moral message. Freedom Writers strikes a good balance in omitting any unnecessary sexual references, toning down the language and being strong in its overall messages regarding the seriousness of discrimination, the need to treat one another equally, and the ability of everyone to achieve something good if they are prepared to be honest, open themselves up as a person and put in some hard work. The one downside was an unnecessary use of swearing later on in the film by Erin (Hillary Swank) and also the sub-plot of her failed marriage could have been clarified a little better I thought, though overall at least it wasn't presented as a positive thing. The result is a good film that is suitable for viewing amongst the age-range that will most benefit from seeing it.
