The portrayal of a long beach high school in freedom writers raises hackles in the city. He admires their racial and ethnic diversity but, most importantly, their unity as a class and their academic achievements. A young teacher inspires her class of atrisk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves and pursue education beyond high school. With hilary swank, imelda staunton, patrick dempsey, scott glenn. The scene where she attempts to get the kids onside by playing snoop dog and dancing like her feet having been stapled to concrete lintels is toe curling. It could be argued that the film is over simplified and while hilary swank is a terrific actress, her performance is a little one note all wringing hands and toothy grin. Her father was a latino gang member, resulting in her becoming a thirdgeneration gang member. This is a true story but the way its presented and the way the narrative unfolds makes this film feel like a stretch to believe. Idealistic erin gruwell is just starting her first teaching job, that as freshman and sophomore english teacher at woodrow wilson high school, which, two years earlier, implemented a voluntary integration program.
Hilary swank gives a powerhouse performance as a maverick high school teacher in freedom writers, an often gripping and sometimes even inspiring film drama taken from the reallife story of erin. Despite her youth and inexperience, erin is certainly praiseworthy for her passion to see kids escape the prison of their surroundings through proper education. This also is the 10th anniversary of the freedom writers movie starring. May 12, 2012 based on the book the freedom writers diary and supported by a cast of firsttime actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street, gruwell teaches us all an important lesson about. Swank plays erin gruwell in the film, which recounts ms. A young teacher inspires her class of atrisk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. With over one million copies sold, the freedom writers diary caught the attention of hollywood. The film itself is a powerful drama which gets me every time a watch it. Freedom writers couldve just as easily been called ode to a teacher, considering the high praise it pours on educators who earnestly care about bettering their students. Richard lagravanese on freedom writers when erin gruwell began teaching high school in long beach, california, in 1994, she faced a class of black, latino, and asian gang members seething with anger. The movie has gone on to inspire countless students and. In freedom writers, enthusiastic and innocent teacher erin gruwell hilary swank arrives at a high school in long beach just after the l.
Cohn now is executive director for the california collaborative for. The movieclips channel is the largest collection of licensed movie clips on the web. It is based on the book the freedom writers diary by teacher erin gruwell and students who compiled the book out of real diary entries about their. The plot is gritty with some thought provoking sayings and scenes.
Hillary swank was one of the movies executive producers. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them is a nonfiction 1999 book written by the freedom writers, a group of students from woodrow wilson high school in long beach, california, and their teacher erin gruwell. The movie freedom writers, stars hilary swank, imelda staunton, and patrick dempsey, and is directed by richard lagravenese, is based on a true story about a school in long beach, california imdb. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. Richard lagravenese was born on october 30, 1959 in brooklyn, new york, usa. Freedom writers 49 movie clip i am home 2007 hd youtube. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them. Richard lagravenese, freedom writers, erin gruwell who are we. Freedom writers is a 2007 american drama film written and directed by richard lagravenese. The feature film, freedom writers, starring hilary swank hit theaters in 2008.
One thing i remember reading from a screen writing book was that you should never tell yourself, this has been done before. In freedom writers hilary swank uses neediness to fine effect in a film. This also is the 10th anniversary of the freedom writers movie starring hilary swank. It is the basis of the 2007 movie freedom writers, starring.
A truly moving picture explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. It is based on the book the freedom writers diary by teacher erin gruwell and students who compiled the book out of real diary entries about their lives that they wrote in. She believes that life is a war, putting up a tough front and never letting ayone in. Idealistic erin gruwell finds a way to unify her disadvantaged, racially divided students and to improve their grasp of academics, partly by having them keep journals about their violent, troubled lives. She went on to become a professor at cal state long beach and is now the director of the freedom writers foundation, a nonprofit. Its this last part that makes director richard lagraveneses film work, despite its many cliches. Richard lagravenese screenplay, freedom writers book 1 more credit. Paramount pictures worked closely with erin and the freedom writers to adapt a script from the successful book. He is a writer and producer, known for freedom writers 2007, behind the candelabra 20 and beautiful creatures 20. What visual techniques are used in freedom writers. The story of songwriter howard ashman who penned the lyrics for little shop of horrors, the little mermaid, aladdin and beauty and the beast before he.
The freedom writers diary 20th anniversary edition. Based on a true story and the diaries of real long beach teenagers after the l. The director of the movie is richard lagravenese and the screenwriters. Though the movie s emphasis on the efforts of a public school teacher is mostly secular and, hence, somewhat romantic see the note below, the movie keeps returning to. The teacher who inspired the film speaks up for it. Cast in credits order complete, awaiting verification. May 11, 2012 based on the book the freedom writers diary and supported by a cast of firsttime actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street, gruwell teaches us all an important lesson about. Actors death eerily similar to film role share this.
Idealistic erin gruwell is just starting her first teaching job, that as freshman and sophomore english teacher at woodrow wilson high school, which, two years. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of freedom writers with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at. Hosted by renowned educator erin gruwell, the freedom writers podcast features thoughtprovoking conversations with ms. The movie was first released on january 5th 2007 in the usa, and on may 18th 2007 in norway. Freedom writers 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Freedom writers diarys was delivered in very good condition. Long beachs freedom writers 20 years later where are they.
Freedom writers is a 2007 drama film written and directed by richard lagravenese and starring hilary swank, scott glenn, imelda staunton, patrick dempsey and mario. The book became an instant new york times best seller and the basis for the 2007 movie freedom writers, starring hilary swank. The freedom writers diary characters from litcharts the. Freedom writers 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors. Learn the real story of erin gruwell and her freedom writers.
Jan 05, 2007 if freedom writers is a little too slick, it still contains enough heartfelt, provocative moments to become the first really good, entertaining movie of 2007 to be released. Mar 28, 2017 this movie probably has nothing new to bring to the table. Go behind the hilary swank movie and discover the true story of the real freedom writers and their diary that inspired the film. Hilary swank plays the role of erin gruwell, a new, excited schoolteacher who leaves the safety of her hometown, newport beach, to teach at woodrow wilson high school in long beach, a formerly high achieving school which has recently had an integration program put in place. Freedom writers 2007 rotten tomatoes movie trailers.
Erin originally met with director richard lagravenese in 2000 after he first saw a story about the book the freedom writers diary on the tv news show primetime. Swank plays erin gruwell, the reallife teacher at long. Gruwell s class to his seminar, steven spielberg, the famous movie director who created schindlers list, invites them to universal studios. Freedom writers is a 2007 american drama film written and directed by richard lagravenese and starring hilary swank, scott glenn, imelda staunton, patrick dempsey and mario. On some level, just about any movie featuring neversaydie. To a younger audience, the film s detailing of racial tension in long beach, usa is really quite hardhitting, but to a more mature audience, freedom writers is a far more watered down account of.
In the movie freedom writers, we see that erin gruwell takes the kids to the holocaust museum. Hilary swank plays erin gruwell, a motivated high school teacher that will do anything to help and push her troubled students to success. Actors death eerily similar to film role orange county. Freedom writers cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. Hilary swank stars in this story about a teacher in a racially divided school who gives her students what theyve always needed a voice. While it is, like its genre brethren, inspiring and uplifting, freedom writers glosses over so much material that it makes the process look too easy. Directed by screenwriter richard lagravanese and based on the reallife experiences of fledgling california highschool teacher erin gruwell, this earnest drama says nothing that hasnt already been said by up the down staircase 1967, to sir, with love 1967, stand and deliver 1988. An inspiring and meaningful movie freedom writers freedom writers is a drama movie based on the book the freedom writers diary written by the freedom writers with erin gruwell. Freedom writers is a fine example of that philosophy. She witnesses a fight, sees a boy pull out a gun, and endures taunts from. Based on the book the freedom writers diary and supported by a cast of firsttime actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street, gruwell teaches us all an important lesson about tolerance and trust. Jun 26, 2014 assigned the thankless task of teaching freshman english at a ganginfested long beach, ca high school, a 23yearold teacher resorts to unconventional means of breaking through to her hardened students in director richard lagraveneses adaptation of erin gruwells bestseller the freedom writers diaries. Freedom writers 2007 directed by richard lagravenese. Based on the book the freedom writers diary and supported by a cast of firsttime actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street.
Freedom writers teacher shares her message of solidarity. She witnesses a fight, sees a boy pull out a gun, and endures taunts from her students, who see themselves as their other teachers see them. Oct 30, 2017 the freedom writers, including erin gruwell front, center, in 1999. Gruwells visit is part of superintendent director dr. Freedom writers is a frank, formulaic entry in the inspirational innercity teacher genre, with an energetic hilary swank leading the appealing cast of unknowns.
Richard lagravenese screenplay, freedom writers book 1 more credit stars. What visual techniques has there been used to show. Freedom writers dairys was actually a book written by erwins pupils. I am one of the judges for the heartland film festivals truly moving picture award. Freedom writers characters eva eva has had a tough life. My name is richard lagravenese, the director of the 2007 film freedom writers. You can always make variations on familiar story lines. I went into it not knowing a lot about what the movie was about, but expecting a dangerous minds knockoff, but was surprised at how much i really loved this. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Based on the book the freedom writers diary and supported by a cast of first time actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street.
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