Freedom Writers
The Road to Knowledge: Freedom Writers
If you’re looking for a film inspiring young people and promoting the message, “Knowledge is power,” you’ve found the right one. In a world filled with disparities in education and gang-filled streets in different neighborhoods, we have a new educator, Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank), wanting to make a difference in her community by teaching students to develop their love for knowledge. Freedom Writers “Their Stories Their Words”, a film released in 2007 was developed from the nonfiction book, The Freedom Writers Diary, follows Gruwell and her students as they experience life ins school and low-income homes. Danny DeVito, producer of the film, has directed, produced, and acted leading up to the making of Freedom Writers. Screenplay writer and director, Richard LaGravenese, took it upon himself to capture the essence of Gruwell’s and the Freedom Writers’ lives and transpose them for the big screen.
This 123 minute dramatic feature film offers a different approach for the Hollywood screen differing from movies made merely for the enjoyment of the audience. This film targets different generations, like teachers, students, and parents. Regardless of who watches, this film leaves a lasting impression. The motion picture, filmed in three different locations in California: Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Hamilton High School, allows the audience to capture the area Gruwell and husband Scott Casey, (Patrick Dempsey) lived during her time at Woodrow Wilson High School.
Set in the early 1990s, Gruwell, the protagonist, begins her English teaching career at Woodrow Wilson High School and recognized the needs of the students in the community. The students she has as a first year teacher are at risk and feel race and gangs divide the school and the community they live within. Gruwell faces challenges by the head of the English Department, Margaret Campbell (Imelda Staunton), who believes the students can’t excel because they’re remedial. Faced with adversity, Gruwell continues to push the limitations and shows the students, just to name a few Mario (Andre Bryant), Eva Benitez (April Hernandez), and Jamal Hill (Deance Wyatt). Swank, who portrays Gruwell, does a fantastic job of depicting the struggle faced while teaching her inner city kids the tools to gain knowledge. Along the way, issues follow her marriage, but the bond between her students grows until she decides that she would like to move grades to further their education and stay connected to them.
In Long Beach, California, Gruwell comes to a failing school with optimism and a vision of how to lead her class. Her vision transformed at the beginning of her first day of class when she was greeted by students hesitant to learn and who divided themselves amongst “tribes,” as Eva mentions later. Gruwell, who maintains an atmosphere of profession, meets resistance from other educators when she tries to show them her students are, in fact, not “unteachable.” She goes out of her way to show each of her students they are unique and deserve to be treated with respect. After shown resistance by Ms. Campbell, the head of the English department, from using the books she believes will benefit her students, Gruwell gets a second job so she can purchase the books herself, and gives them to the students so they can have their own copies. Most of them have never owned a book before.
She deals with request from her husband about their marriage. He prefers that she focus less on her job and more on their relationship, but she is unable to do so and ultimately gets divorced. As the film continues, the story shifts from Gruwell’s personal life back to the students, and focuses on Eva and Sindy (Jaclyn Ngan) and their gang affiliations. They are in the middle of a store robbery and shooting death and only those two know what really happened. This event causes an even bigger rift and divides everyone in the school. Eva is needed to give testimony to protect her boyfriend who killed Sindy’s boyfriend. Next, the class passes around a racist drawing depicting a classmate’s facial features and the drawing lecture by Gruwell sparks a discussion on the Holocaust and Hitler’s similar logic, which created hatred amongst an entire population. Through Gruwell’s actions and teaching, she gains trust and rapport with the students and she’s able to introduce them to field trips to the Holocaust Museum, and learn more about the Holocaust, which is the central plot of the film. During this time, she also introduced journals the students would write in. While they wrote in these journals, Gruwell continued to see the growth in each student.
Entering into the students’ sophomore year and Gruwell’s second year teaching, her class invites a Holocaust survivor to come and speak to the whole school. They all come together and raise money. Miep Gies (Pat Carroll) arrives and speaks about the Holocaust giving them another side of the story they read in Anne Frank’s diary and how she and her family helped Anne Frank hide. During this time, the trial for the shooting progresses as the lives of the other students are revealed as they make changes for the better. Eva contemplates her testimony. The students edit their diaries into book form and title, The Freedom Writer’s Diary.
Junior year approaches, and now the students want Gruwell to be their teacher for junior year, but the head of the English department says no because of her seniority. The disagreement goes to the board of education, and the superintendent allows Gruwell to stay with her juniors. Gruwell continued to teach the students throughout high school and upon their graduation Gruwell followed the students to college helping in their matriculation.
The story carries a great message and teaches students to persevere during hard times. Someone looking for a film depicting the work teachers face while teaching “at-risk” students should watch this. Each scene offers insight into the workings of each member in the classroom and how they faced challenges. The best scene, by far, was the scene with the red tape. The red tape showed the different groups they, in fact, did have something in common with each other. The movie had such balance and it captured the stories of all the members of the classroom effectively showing the diversity in light of the adversity. The movie’s quality exceeds all expectations, but then again with actors like Hillary Swank and Patrick Dempsey, I expect nothing less. The shortcomings of this film are little to none. The teacher as the heroin does portray a white teacher coming to save the minority as many films have done in the past. The actors, location, and those behind the scenes help create a story which has been thoroughly researched . All in all the movie-goer will enjoy this as it fits different audiences and generations.
This film deserves 5 stars as it puts the audience right in the middle of the movie and grabs their attention. Anyone leaving the movie will be satisfied and may even want to go watch again. Beware: some scenes may cause mental overload as they make you reevaluate your life and what it means to be a “hero” in America. The scope was just right while outlining the life of Gruwell as she takes her students into her heart and make them feel like they belong and have a sense of community somewhere. While watching you will gain a sense of knowledge on the road out of inner city schools and perhaps education will be valued even more by seeing the students’ struggle and the struggle of teachers wanting them to succeed.
While watching this film, the importance of education and how it ties in with lifestyles holds significance. For instance, Jason Finn (Marcus), had lived a hard life and the only thing he knew was the streets so he didn’t see a point for education, but Mrs. Gruwell changed that for him. Mrs. Gruwell’s job as a teacher for these students in the film shows the lengths some teachers will go to provide for those they believe are capable of learning. She mentors them and helps to develop their belief in themselves and their confidence by buying them books, telling them they can achieve all their dreams and mainly being their confidante. She worked for these students for more than the usual 9-to-5. This does bring into question her personal life and what happened to that. As important as her educating her students on English, where does her own personal life begin? She gave up her marriage for these students and what will she have after they transition into their own careers? These are questions in my mind while reading and hopefully the viewers as well.
My interest in this field comes from my interest in mentoring and guiding people to their passion and their ultimate happiness. From this motion picture, I noticed that mentors come in various forms. The red tape scene was a pivotal point in this film, Gruwell’s students realized they’re more alike than they imagined, race was only a color dividing them. She guided them into writing their deepest darkest secrets in their journals and she even gave them the courage to publish it for the world to see. I personally want to work in higher education after my undergraduate career and help students find classes, guide them through college, and give them one-on-one guidance as it pertains to their life. I found this film easily because I’ve seen it before, and when given this to write a film review, I knew I wanted to choose Freedom Writers. Mrs. Gruwell excels at making each student feel like an individual, not just a statistic and that’s a trait I want to have while working with college students.
The dramatic movie’s style was interesting, close ups and different camera filters added to that effect. Language was used effectively during each different students’ piece as narrator showcasing their speech and attitude as a product of the streets. They gave background into their lives and they set the tone. The setting also increased the effectiveness. As film watchers we are able to see the division and in some cases hatred each affiliation felt for the other. Gruwell’s class became a safe haven and the mindset of the classmates became a friendlier one. The overall cinematography consistently stays even through movie and there were no shifts made without conscious effort. The reason for each lighting or angle was for visual effect. The visual style gave the story meaning and produced a connection with the students and the audience. The film has a dark lighting throughout the film but as progression and learning happens the lens takes on a brighter form.
The film and book reviews are both reflections of what I would like to do in the future while working in higher education. As an academic advisor having grant writing skills and teaching skills are helpful for the overall department. No plans are linear, so it is my job to learn that I can. The film review was by far better than my book review because I got to see multiple examples of her teaching and offering guidance and her acting as mentor to her class. The book I reviewed was short and required additional information to be of use to anyone wanting this as a career.
Reflection
My overall opinion of this film was great and in reference to the career I would like to have it made a lasting impact. My goal is to learn much about different career paths. As a realist, I know having more than one back up plan is needed to be effective, and I would like to be a master of all trades. This motion picture has always inspired me to want to impact those who are coming up into the world after me because it is their America. My future goals don’t include becoming a high school teacher; my ambition to work in a college setting and do some of what Gruwell did to make her students see they are worthy is my plan. This film also showed me that in times of change people will be fearful. If this is a profession I want to succeed in, I have to be ready for resistance. Also, stepping out of the social norm creates tension amongst those in power.
This film made me think about the school system and the different levels in America. Some schools are faced with inner city problems and they are simply a product of their environment. It impacted me to be more of a change agent for those I can help. As a product of a parent that teaches and aunts who work in different school systems, I believe this film’s biggest goal is to bring awareness to the school system, present the fact that “unteachable” students may just need to see a different side of you, and bring entertainment for the viewers.
This film is very useful for English majors. This motion picture depicts an English teacher making a difference. Many English majors come to college with this intent and this movie shows that it is in fact possible. It brings forth questions of how to help students who have the potential to be great; they just need the proper guidance.
Through watching this film, I was excited to think about the impact I will have on the collegiate level. Lending a hand to those I come in contact will be the biggest achievement I get and being able to keep updates of their academic achievements.
Work Cited
“Danny DeVito.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000362/#producer>.
“Freedom Writers Filming Locations.” N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
<http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0463998%2Flocations>.
“Freedom Writers.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/?ref_=nv_sr_1>.
Picture from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/