Friday 18 September 2009

Freedom Writers

Based on a true story, Hilary Swank plays Erin Gruwell, a middle class, idealist teacher who goes to work in Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, a voluntary integrated school. However it isn't working. The Asians, The Blacks, The Latinos and The Whites do not get along and the school has no faith in the minorities. Violence is high and most students do not make it to graduation. Erin Gruwell, who initially doesn't fit in and comes into conflict with her students makes it her mission to change these students way of life. Through informal education she encourages the students to share their life experiences and build relationships with each other. Through learning about the atrocities of the Holocaust, the students begin to read and write and care about their work. They even create a fundraiser to bring over the woman who hid Anne Frank. Their whole outlook on life is transformed and they graduate and some even make it to university.
This film is truly remarkable and would recommend it highly. It is also very effective to deliver messages of informal education, creativity and change. A book has been published with the diaries of all the Freedom Writers which I am looking forward to reading.

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