A few months ago I picked up The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher & 150 Teens used Writing to Change Themselves and the World around Them. It was fascinating. So, the other day I rented the movie to watch during my endless nursing sessions.
The movie was great! It’s a schooch corny & cliche’ however it’s raw, it’s real & it’s exceptionally well acted. It based on the true story of one newbie freshman high school teacher eager to teach in an integrated classroom full of competing gang members, abused kids and homeless kids with all sorts of problems.
The teacher uses writing to help get them interested in school and many of end up graduating, not to mention having their diary entries published in the aforementioned book.
I would highly recommend this movie. Sure, it’s 2 years old, but it was really good. Some parts will make you cry but it’s worth it in the end to see how hard work & love triumph!
grade: A+
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Sad that her marriage had to end in the midst of her living out her passion. Seems like that seems to happen a lot in movies like this. I assume it happened in the real life story too.
Judy, you know I was thinking the same thing! I was actually hoping that that was just an extra plot line they added that hopefully isn’t true. And if it is, I’m sure there is more to the story which I’m sure neither of them would want played out in detail in a movie.
I thought the saddest line was when he asked her if she would choose her school kids over him & she couldn’t even deny that she would. It seems her priorities did get a little off even in the midst of the great good she was doing.
I just recently found the book at Goodwill (we have a bookstore run by Goodwill nearby and it is awesome) and immediately grabbed it up. I finally saw the movie a couple of months ago and loved it. I’m looking forward to reading the book & seeing how it’s different.