Freedom Writers - 10 stars out of 10

Freedom Writers - 10 stars out of 10

“Freedom Writers” is a stunning story about the perseverance of students whose troubles reach far beyond their classroom encounters, and the teacher who believes in them so much that they cannot help but succeed.  This character-driven film contains several interesting storylines but the poignancy of this film comes from its truthfulness.  Not only does this film tell a true story, but the story comes from the written words of the characters themselves.  The things that these teenagers must endure are unbelievable, and yet we know that they are true because the script is developed from their real life journal entries in the nonfiction “Freedom Writers Diary.”  While the students wage a war against gang influences and racial stereotypes, teacher Erin Gruwell fights her own battles to show the community why they should invest in these students and to show her husband and father why she cannot abandon them.  “Inspirational” is an understatement.  Hilary Swank shines as she captures the inexperience, insecurity, and internal drive of this teacher.  She is so good that the film feels like a documentary.  The actors playing the students are so great that you would think they were the actual students.  Whether you are a teacher or not “Freedom Writers” will inspire you and make you look at the world in an entirely new way.