Apr 30, 2007 09:35 AM
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This movie is based on a true story. Hilary Swank stars as Erin Gruwell who joins Wilson High School Long Beach California. The LA riots had occured 2 years earlier and the impact can be seen in the schools.
Erin is put in charge of a class containing African Americans, Latinos, Cambodians etc all of whom are caught up in the racial tensions. The students sit only in their own racial groups. All of them are exposed to violence on a daily basis and have lost friends to racial gang violence
These guys/girls believe that sacrificing themselves for their race will make them heroes. Erin makes them realize that it is not true. The school administration believes that nothing good can come out of these kids and hence directs the resources away from their education. Erin takes up additional jobs to support buying text books( Diary of Anne Frank) for these kids. This book serves as an eye opener to these kids.
The students vow to change themselves i.e delink themselves from various gangs and stand by the truth. All in all, a sea of attititude change can be seen in the students. They mix freely and consider themselves a "family" within the class.
To me the best parts in the movie were the students sponsoring a visit from Miep Gies, the Dutch woman who helped Anne Frank and her family elude the Nazis.
The other wonderfully moving scene was that of a student, who had a a terrible summer holiday, coming back to school since he wants to be a part of the "family". His closing line "I am finally home" wonderful
Erin directs the young people to begin keeping journals about their experiences. The collection of their experiences is finally published as "The Freedom Writers" .
Hilary Swank carries the movie on her shoulders. All in all, a wonderful movie.
