UNITE FOR EQUALITY!

END RACISM!

“Freedom Writers” was written and directed by Richard La Gravenge,

produced by Danrvy DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher under MTV
Films, Jersey Films and 2S Films . It is a racial movie with various rival gangs that
fight for their territories. Each member of the gangs experienced the brutally and
being abused by people who are different from their skin color that results to their
conclusion that people with different skin color from what they have are their
enemies. Until Ms. Gruwell came and fought for what is right that changed the 150
teenagers viewpoint and the world around them through writing.

The story was held in Long Beach, California year 2007. Erin Gruwell was
hired to teach English subject at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School. At that
night, Eva, Sindy and her boyfriend went to a convenience store while Paco (Eva's
boyfriend) was left in the car. They caught Grant Rice screaming and want a
refund for the arcade game. When Grant came out, Paco shoot him but
accidentally hit Sindy's boyfriend that sent to death and Eva immediately rode with
Paco to escape. In the middle of the class, Ms. Gruwell criticizes the students’
brutal experiences that results to her to buy books for them. She got two jobs to
finance students’ books and trip whereas she was no longer able to spend time with
her husband. Erin requires students to attend and she invites various Jewish
Holocaust survivors to talk with her class in the Museum. School year comes and
on the first day, Erin makes her class propose a "Toast for Change" which open up
about their struggles and what they wish to change about themselves. As every
day, her students write in their journal so that they can express and share their
experiences. They thought to make enough money to have Miep Gies come to the
United States and tell the class about herself. All the events brings Eva to tell the
truth that breaks free to the demands of her father to always protect her own. The
main characters in the story are Ms. Gruwell (The Protagonist), Eva (Rebellious
strong young woman), Marcus (Got blamed in an accident of his bestfriend /
repelled by his own mother), Scott ( Husband of Ms. Gruwell), Steve (Father of
Ms. Erin) and Ms. Campbell (Antagonistic). The overall story is about how the
students changed with the help of Ms. Erin Gruwell who taught her students to
better understand each other and the world around them. They have different
stories with various skin color that thinks they would gain respect when they fight
for themselves, that dying will bring their honor.

The actresses and actors who have shown a good acting skills and make the
viewers impressed are Eva, Ms. Erin Gruwell, Ms. Campbell, Marcus and Steve.
First and foremost, Eva showed being a brave but a kind and soft hearted woman.
She gaves me the aura of a rebellious young girl where I can see immediately that
she will not hesitate to fight for herself. Then, Ms. Erin Gruwell is a woman who
will fight for what is right and made every scene more intense as how she handle
every situation with the right emotions. Next, Ms. Campbell did a great job too.
She seems to be the villain of the story whereas she showed being an antagonistic.
From the beginning until the end, she made a poker face that makes her expression
perfectly strong. Then, Marcus who is a great guy that fight for himself. He
presented the aura of always angry and I am impressed on the part that he argued
with Ms. Erin whereas I saw the great acting skills. Lastly, Steve made his role as a
good and caring father. The actor suits to the quality of being a father not only to
his daughter but also to the class. As a viewer, I was carried away to the emotions
they have shown in the movie yet there are also actors that I cannot determine what
emotions they have done. They are Scott (Ms. Erin’s Husband) and the Father of
Eva. I did not saw the emotions and their roles. I did not feel anything when the
camera flashes on each of them. They acted with a lack of emotions and
expressions that should be performed. On the other hand, they all did a great job
and even there are actors that did not showed their acting skills still everyone stand
up that makes the movie even better.
I liked about this movie was its lesson. It has the life story of different persons that
mostly black people. It is not just a typical movie about racism thus it was about
addressing it and how will the racism ends . I like how the lights went darker as it
should be the mood of the movie. The lines are compatible to the chosen character
and to their faces. Then, in cinematography and camera effects, it makes the
overall movie suits to the mood of the story. It has the accurate camera angles in
the viewer’s attentions that makes us viewers feel that we are in that movie. It has
so many different problems that had been solved that I did not expect from the
movie which makes the story more relatable to everyone.

This movie has so much to learn in every aspects of life. It is inspirational

and leaves a message that do not ever judge someone by their race without
knowing them good enough because you might have a fake opinion and
assumptions about them. Others will realize and learn that they should not
discriminate a person by their physical appearance. Given that, we don’t know
what they’re going through. In addition, the lesson is always keep in mind that you
are the one who will only help for yourself and there are the one who can
understand and help you no matter how hard it is. Imagining a non judgmental,
racism, having compassion, and unity would sent us into a peaceful world.

The movie is rated PG-13for it has violent content and offensive languages.
However, I would recommend this to the students from 10 years old above as it
promotes non-judgmental and anti- racism, especially to the teenagers who
continuously judging others by their outer apperance. Sometimes we judge others
accidentally and being an insensitive persons. As well, there are few who
continuously judging people by their physical appearances as they make fun of it.
Through watching the movie, they will realize that there is nothing good about
being judgmental and all the fights did not gain respect or made them cool. They
will realize the things they’ve done to someone by discriminating others in terms
of their skin colors are literally wrong. I chose the students around 10 years old
above, which they already know the difference between the right and wrong.
Since,we all know that there are younger students who bullied their classmates and
call them with other name just because of their physical appearances. On the other
hand, I would not recommend it to the younger ones and to the people with mental
illnesses as it has violence and offensive languages. Those people has the
tendency to apply it and hurt others unintentionally. In conclusion, this was the
best inspirational movie that I have ever watched given that we are all related and
know the reasons why they became who they are today.

I would give a 10 out of 10 to this movie . I cannot stop myself to re-watch

the story. I love the overall movie whereas it promotes the anti-racism
environment. It gives me lessons in my life and this movie must be recommended.
Through this story, we can inspire a lot of people to change themselves and how
they should see an individual in our world.