Freedom Writers (2007)

A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.

Director:

Richard LaGravenese

Writers:

Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Freedom Writers (book),

Stars:

Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilary Swank	...	Erin Gruwell
Patrick Dempsey	...	Scott Casey
Scott Glenn	...	Steve Gruwell
Imelda Staunton	...	Margaret Campbell
April L. Hernandez	...	Eva Benitez (as April Lee Hernandez)
Mario	...	Andre Bryant
Kristin Herrera	...	Gloria Munez
Jaclyn Ngan	...	Sindy
Sergio Montalvo	...	Alejandro Santiago
Jason Finn	...	Marcus
Deance Wyatt	...	Jamal Hill
Vanetta Smith	...	Brandy Ross
Gabriel Chavarria	...	Tito
Hunter Parrish	...	Ben Daniels
Antonio García	...	Miguel

Storyline

It's 1994 in Long Beach, California. Idealistic Erin Gruwell is just starting her first teaching job, that as freshman and sophomore English teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, which, two years earlier, implemented a voluntary integration program. For many of the existing teachers, the integration has ruined the school, whose previously stellar academic standing has been replaced with many students who will be lucky to graduate or even be literate. Despite choosing the school on purpose because of its integration program, Erin is unprepared for the nature of her classroom, whose students live by generations of strict moral codes of protecting their own at all cost. Many are in gangs and almost all know somebody that has been killed by gang violence. The Latinos hate the Cambodians who hate the blacks and so on. The only person the students hate more is Ms. Gruwell. It isn't until Erin holds an unsanctioned discussion about a recent drive-by shooting death that she fully begins to ...

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | high school | marriage | journal | writing | 

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Taglines:

their story their words

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violent content, some thematic material and language

Details

Official Sites:

freedomwriters Official site [es]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Écrire pour exister

Filming Locations:

Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£233,382 (UK) (2 March 2007)

Gross:

$36,581,633 (USA) (9 March 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Double Feature Films, MTV Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second time that Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey have been together in a film; the first was for Iron Jawed Angels.

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Goofs

The scene where Miep Gies tells the day Anne Frank was captured was told with some factual errors. Gies never went back to her house that very day to get bribery materials.

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Quotes

Ben: Ms. G, we can fight this y'know, like the Freedom Riders.
Marcus: Yeh yeh, we all drive around on a bus, only this time they try and bust us up we bust a few of them board member's heads.
Brandy: Or we can go to the newspapers. Media...?
Tito: Or we can paint the administration building with the word assholes, in various colours.

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Connections

References Boyz n the Hood (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Code Of The Streets"
by Robert Russell, DJ Premier (as Chris Martin) & The Guru (as Keith Elam)
Performed by Gang Starr
Courtesy of Virgin Records America, Inc.
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

You will NOT be disappointed!

Great movie! I just saw an advanced screening, and was taken aback. I went into it not knowing a lot about what the movie was about, but expecting a "Dangerous Minds" Knock-off, but was surprised at how much I really loved this. It's not like an award-winning film; however, it is definitely worth checking out. And, without a fear of losing my masculinity, I can honestly say that there were two, maybe three scenes that I had to bite my lip and try to not tear up... if you can watch this movie and not get misty eyed at least once there is something wrong. There were actually scenes where the packed theater clapped and cheered, and other times when everyone gasped at the same time.. it will keep you entertained and you will walk away glad you came to see it.