Freedom Writers; A New Family

Freedom Writers

Paramount Pictures’ Freedom Writers is a 2007 film directed and written by Richard LaGravenese and produced by Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, and Stacey Sher. The film stars Hilary Swank as schoolteacher Erin Gruwell, Patrick Dempsey as Erin’s husband Scott Casey, Scott Glenn as Erin’s father Steve Gruwell, and Imelda Staunton as department chair, Margaret Campbell.

Freedom Writers is a true story about a suburban teacher who gets a job at a high school with rivaling students. On her first day, the inexperienced, young teacher Mrs. Gruwell, gets a run for her money when the students aren’t as welcoming as she had hoped. Instead the students are too busy with their own racial differences and ouside gang life to care at all. But, with unique teaching and giving her students experiences they had never had, Mrs. Gruwell brings the class together to write a book called “ The Freedom Writers Diary” with the entries of the journals that she had previously given them. The class is now a family.

I am impressed by Hilary Swank's role as Mrs. Gruwell. She acts the part well and is inspiring awell as noble. I believe the students, especially, are honest and do an amazing job in the film.

This film is similar to the film Take The Lead starring Antonio Banderas. The movie is about a ballroom dance instructer, Pierrre, who travels to a high school to teach dance to students who attend detention after school. It reminds me of The Freedom Writers because both teachers are inexperienced and are attempting to teach students who have no interest in learning. Both teachers also use unique methods, in this case dance. The music is alike aswell becasue they use music that the students would listen to, and the message in the two are identical in ways. The overall message of hope and that anyone can do anything is persued, I believe, and is proven true in both films.