Freedom Writers...reveals courage.

Freedom Writers, set in Long Beach, California is based on a true story of a first time high school teacher, Mrs. Gruwell, played by two-time Academy Award winner, Hilary Swank. Mrs. G had a Norman Rockwell vision of what teaching entailed: obedient students, eager colleagues, organized lesson plans, abundant school supplies, and supportive school administration. A vision quickly dashed on her first day, as her students were rebellious, underprivileged, with troubled & tattered backgrounds. Their primary goal was survival on a day-to-day basis, with little room for intellectual or educational pursuits; and previous teachers had all but given up on these students.

Mrs. Gruwell, although ill equipped, takes on the challenging task and through trial & error, creativity, and perseverance, both the students and Ms. G learn to meet halfway. Her most effective teaching methods involve journaling, as well as reading & discussing The Diary of Anne Frank. Freedom Writers starts out slow and feels similar to something we have all seen before, yet halfway through the film, you feel the personal stories of the students take hold; which finally transforms the film into a touching experience that reveals courage on the part of students and celebrates Mrs. Gruwell's dedication. GO SEE Freedom Writer. (123 minutes, PG-13)