Freedom Writers

Freedom Writers is a movie based on the book of the same name. The movie is based on a true story set in a Freshman English class Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California, 1994 where racial tension & gang violence is at an all time high.

Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) is a first year teacher who is bright eyed and eager to change these kids lives. The first day of class is a rude awakening for Erin because she discovers these kids don't care about learning. After a few weeks of no progress with the students she decides to begin a debate about racism after a student draws a picture of another student with big lips as compares that with the Nazis' caricatures of Jews with big noses.

Erin realizes these kids need to write their feelings and worries down and requests them to begin keeping a diary. She said that she would only read them if they wanted her to and the first day her cupboard was fill with their journals. Erin began reading them wants to incorporate books and discussions the students can identify with.

One of the books the students read is The Diary of Anne Frank, and money is raised to have Miep Gies come over to talk about the Holocaust. Erin had to purchase these books with her own money because the school did not want to support these students. She takes on two other jobs to help pay for all the activities she wants to do with the students. As a result of all the time she spends away from her husband, Scott (Patrick Dempsey) they end up getting a divorce.

The movie is the same-old, same-old. I have already seen the movie at least three times before is some different variation. It was very inspirational, of course and I had warm fuzzies afterwards. The only problem was that the Erin character I felt was too good, too saintly. I give this movie a 5.5 out of 10.