IMDb > Freedom Writers (2007)
Freedom Writers
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Freedom Writers (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 75 | slideshow) Videos (see all 19)
Freedom Writers (2007) -- A young teacher (Swank) inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.
Freedom Writers (2007) -- Clip: Tupac
Freedom Writers (2007) -- Interview: Hilary Swank "On Erin Gruwell"
Freedom Writers (2007) -- A young teacher (Swank) inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.
Freedom Writers (2007) -- A young teacher (Swank) inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   16,090 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers (WGA):
Richard LaGravenese (screenplay)
Freedom Writers (book) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Freedom Writers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 January 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
our story. our words. more
Plot:
A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Truly Moving Picture more (188 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for violent content, some thematic material and language.
Runtime:
123 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Part of the movie was filmed at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Early movie takes place in 1994, the computer used is running Windows XP. XP was released in late 2001. more
Quotes:
Eva: I don't even know how this war started. It's just two sides that tripped each other way back. Who cares about the history behind it? I am my father's daughter, and when they call me to testify, I will protect my own, no matter what. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Getaway: (#17.12)" (2008) more
Soundtrack:
A Dream more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
142 out of 171 people found the following comment useful.
Truly Moving Picture, 15 December 2006
Author: tollini from United States

I saw this film on December 13th, 2006 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival's Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

Woodrow Wilson High School is located in Long Beach, California. The school is voluntarily integrated, and it isn't working. The Asians, the Blacks, the Latinos, and a very few whites not only don't get along, but also stay with their own and are part of protective and violent gangs. There isn't much teaching or learning going on at the school. It is a warehouse for young teenagers until they can drop out or are kicked out.

With this background, an idealistic teacher (Hilary Swank) arrives to teach Freshmen English. She is very educated, pretty, middle class, non-ethnic, well-dressed, and smart. From day one, she doesn't fit in the classroom with these tough kids, and she doesn't fit in with the faculty, who have all but given up and resigned themselves to being the keepers of the student warehouse.

But our idealistic teacher will not give up. She slowly and painfully tries to teach by first learning about "…the pain…" the students feel. She encourages each of her students to keep a journal of their painful and difficult life, and then to share the journal with her. She also attempts to get the four ethnic groups to come together by getting them to recognize what they have in common; specifically, their music, their movies, their broken families, and their broken community surroundings.

While struggling with the students, she has to deal at the same time with two complicated and demanding male relationships. Her husband (Patrick Dempsey) is often supportive, but often jealous of her time commitments. Her father (Scott Glenn) is often disappointed of her career choice, but often proud of her courage and tenacity.

This story feels real. It is beautifully done. The acting of Swank, Dempsey and Glenn is professional and believable. More importantly the story highlights our society's challenges in schooling the children of poor and one-parent families.

The movie doesn't give miracle answers. But it does give hope. And in the end, sincere effort appears to count for something … maybe everything.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (188 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Freedom Writers (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Imelda Staunton's character was a bitch omegapirate900
A movie identical to this one guttapimp
I NEED HELP WITH MY SONS HOMEWORK TONIGHT PLEASE HELP vipordad05
Shouldn't Ms. G NOT go with them to their junior + senior year? llama_girls
The 4 books in the borders bag demiselxl
Old actors dario-29
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Blow A Mighty Heart Heavenly Creatures Let Him Have It River's Edge
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Biography section IMDb Germany section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.