Freedom Writers

Hillary Swank plays Erin Gruwell, a real life teacher in Long Beach a couple years after the LA Riots of 1992. She is young and idealistic about making a difference in kids lives. She is shocked and overwhelmed by the depth of the problems that these kids face and the antagonism she experiences from kids, parents, her family and fellow educators. But Gruwell is a Lone Ranger type who will not accept failure and she ends up actually making that difference in kids life, at huge personal cost (and personal gain). At one point, a discussion takes place to determine if Gruwell's methods are valid and should be allowed to continue. The argument against is that the method (massive time and personal energy input) is neither sustainable nor scalable. And this is true. Swank is observed with her 20 or so students throughout the film. Where are the 130 other students she teaches? The film highlights a tragic shortfall in our education system. One teacher can teach for 4 years and follow some freshman through their senior year and then be done (burnt). What does a sustainable and scalable education system look like that can challenge and support students from any background? Not what we have, of that we are sure.
4 stars (out of 5)