Ashley Porter
Published: January 24, 2006
Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank, is about a first time teacher taking a risk and teaching the un-teachable in a school surrounded by gang violence in Long Beach, Calif. The film was based on the inspirational true story about a group of kids that overcame great obstacles and learned to get along with one another through the teachings of Erin Gruwell.
The movie is a piece of each teenager’s life brought together in the classroom. They all learn together that if they apply themselves that they can succeed even though everyone has told them they can’t.
Although the movie is mostly about the kids, of course the teacher has to overcome her own obstacles as well. After being told repeatedly that she would not be granted books or funding for trips, Erin decided to go to the school board and request permission for a field trip to a Holocaust museum.
Going to the museum is the obvious turning point for all of the students; they all find out that what is happening in each of their lives is no where near as awful as what happened to the victims of the Holocaust. By the end of the movie each of them has done a complete turn around in their lives and they are prepared to battle anything that stands in the way of their future.
This movie is definitely one of the best inspirational dramas I’ve seen in a long time. It is a story of courage and hope even in the darkest hour of our lives. The way that the film uses history to influence the future is absolutely the best technique I’ve ever seen.
Erin Gruwell is a truly inspirational person and has even started a foundation, known as the Freedom Writers Foundation that is dedicated to teaching kids that they can have an impact on their community by applying themselves in the class room.
For more information, visit the website www.freedomwritersfoundation.org.
