FREEDOM WRITERS (2007)

MOVIE REVIEW

Freedom Writers is one of those movies about teacher working with throwaway kids
tend to follow a predictable conflict and resolution, and bitter tears. Erin Gruwell is an idealistic
but strong-willed teacher who transforms a chaotic class of hardened and disrespectful city
youths. She is a 23-year-old student teacher, a wife, and a daughter who accepted a position
teaching freshman and sophomore English at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach.
Calif.

Mrs. Gruwell is a white person who struggles to relate herself with mixed freshman class
of blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and one white guy. She was excited on her first day of teaching at
Wilson High and expected much because it is filled with students who had high academic scores
but have seen the reality with underprivileged boys and girls who use drugs, have served time
in prison, and where people are killed regularly on streets. She took the challenge of educating
a diverse group of high school students classified as “unteachables” who rebels against learning
and disrespecting the educational system.

Erin gives her best in everything just to change her students and I salute her on her
idealism and enthusiasm to connect with her students by also talking their language. But she
was judged by her students thinking that another white person trying to take them over.
Nothing actually work, all disrespectful acts she received, and even Class 203 became lesser
every day. Until one time, she confiscated a racial cartoon drawing that one of her students had
drawn based on his classmate’s appearance. She got angry and told them that it was similar to
the inflaming resentment between religions. They know nothing about it and they began to
listen to Erin Gruwell in everything she says. Her commands were obeyed and they even share
their feeling through journals.

This teacher’s commitment to transforming her student’s attitudes undergoes many

shocks and setbacks. Her husband Scott grows increasingly irritated on her actions because she
even finances her student’s books. Her father who inspired her with his idealism also had a
hard time accepting her devotion to teaching. But in the end, all this pays off for Erin as the
students find common ground and form a creative community of sharing.

Diversity may be the hardest thing to live with but the most dangerous thing to be
without. The youth are divided into groups based on race and gang affiliation. They are loyal to
their own and aggressive toward strangers. But thanks to Erin who plays a big contribution to
her student’s lives when they break down the walls that separate them from others. She can be
the greatest inspiration not only in diversified places and in her Class 203 but can teach all the
people on the right things to do.