A young teacher takes on a class of at-risk students in a violent high school, inspiring them to learn tolerance and to apply themselves through daily writing in a journal.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 31-JUL-2007
Media Type: DVDThough the “inspirational teacher” theme may feel done to death, Freedom Writers succeeds because it emphasizes the students as much as the teacher. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry) comes to a southern California high school bubbling over with naive optimism, but quickly discovers that her unruly classroom isn’t easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives–an assignment that the class bites into with relish, which eventually bonds them together and pushes racial rivalries aside. This plotline has been made before, sometimes well, sometimes poorly; Freedom Writers, by drawing heavily from the published journals of the students–and thanks to a (mostly) unheroic script, direction that emphasizes individual characters over stereotypes, and rigorous performances from the whole cast–makes the story seem fresh and genuine. Swank does solid work, but the standouts are April L. Hernandez as a girl whose gang wants her to lie and send an innocent boy to jail and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) as a teacher who resents Gruwell’s offbeat success. Also featuring Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy), Scott Glenn (The Right Stuff), and a plethora of strong young actors. –Bret Fetzer
Beyond Freedom Writers
 More Inspirational Teacher Films on DVD |
 The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell |
 More DVDs Starring Hilary Swank |
Stills from Freedom Writers (click for larger image)
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Buy “Freedom Writers “ For Only $8.68
March 5, 2010
#1
If you love Jews you will love this movie!
Or if you ephatically feel that the Jewish portion of the global WW2 losses is not getting enough world-wide recognition today, particularily by young, uneducated, and disadvantaged Americans, this is the movie for you!
This movie is in large part about a quest to find creative ways to come up with money, credit, and thanks to send to Jewish writers & survivors.
With movies like this, Jews will remain in the forefront of our thoughts.
There seems to be racial themes coming out of hollywood the past decade.
Characters with blond/light hair or light colored eyes;
if male are villanous, violent, morally dispicable, and disgusting.
if female are a cause of various troubles, and in need of help, particularily without knowing their role in it.
And old gray haired men are portrayed as having twisted logic, suggesting the wisdom of our elders should be discarded.
Where is this all going?
March 5, 2010
#2
the movie is a total bomb in every way, starring high school dropout hilary swank as a teacher trying to convince kids not to…drop out. the real story is a rehash of stand by me, the substitute, etc. i’m sure you could find 2 dozen previous examples of ‘teacher who believes in at-risk youths’ or ‘teacher who cares when no one else did’. and they’d all be better than this nonsense. in addition, the kids (from all backgrounds) are all so cliched it’s ridiculous. pass on this.
March 5, 2010
#3
I’m so tired of movies glorifying the white woman as the savior of communities of color. I wouldn’t watch freedom writers to save my life,how about watching freedomland its got a white woman in it.
March 5, 2010
#4
Am I the only one who thinks this film is assinine and full of propaganda? In the interest of full disclosure I did not sit through the whole thing as I could not get past all the excuses made for bad behavior. This film makes many assumptions that play to the uninformed. Here was my favorite exchange: “These kids are not activists, they’re criminals and gang bangers” to which Hillary Swank’s character responds: “But didn’t they say the same thing about the Black Panthers?” Are you effing kidding me??!!!!
The black panthers WERE criminals and gang bangers who went under the guise of being civil rights activists. in addition to the agenda this film has playing to race baiting politics, it is just dull by almost any standard. Downright silly and melodramatic at times. The cinematography is stilted and lifeless. Straight color palette with handheld shots done simply to add the missing intensity to stupid situations. If you want to see a great film about the true story of someone who goes into a ghetto school and makes a difference rent “Lean On Me” with Morgan Freeman. An excellent film that doesn’t make excuses for destructive and despicable lifestyles. Also check out Akeelah and the Bee. Contrast Fishburne’s character with Swank’s, you’ll see what I mean. It was financed in part by MTV. What a shocker!! Now go ahead make your comments about how unenlightened I am.
March 5, 2010
#5
Do not buy from this seller. It took FOREVER for the dvd to be mailed to me. I was very disappointed when I received the dvd as the case was not in good shape at all. However, the dvd has only minor scratches. The description was inaccurate, saying it was in excellent shape. It’s not in excellent shape.