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. In freedom writers hilary swank uses neediness to fine effect in a film. 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. The teacher who inspired the film speaks up for it. The freedom writers diary characters from litcharts the. 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. Hilary swank plays erin gruwell, a motivated high school teacher that will do anything to help and push her troubled students to success.
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. This also is the 10th anniversary of the freedom writers movie starring hilary swank. 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. One thing i remember reading from a screen writing book was that you should never tell yourself, this has been done before. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of freedom writers with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at. Freedom writers teacher shares her message of solidarity. Cast in credits order complete, awaiting verification.
My name is richard lagravenese, the director of the 2007 film freedom writers. 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 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. A truly moving picture explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. Hosted by renowned educator erin gruwell, the freedom writers podcast features thoughtprovoking conversations with ms. A young teacher inspires her class of atrisk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. He is a writer and producer, known for freedom writers 2007, behind the candelabra 20 and beautiful creatures 20. Learn the real story of erin gruwell and her freedom writers. She witnesses a fight, sees a boy pull out a gun, and endures taunts from. Richard lagravenese screenplay, freedom writers book 1 more credit. Freedom writers 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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. 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. Gruwells visit is part of superintendent director dr.
Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Richard lagravenese, freedom writers, erin gruwell who are we. Freedom writers is a fine example of that philosophy. The freedom writers diary 20th anniversary edition. The book became an instant new york times best seller and the basis for the 2007 movie freedom writers, starring hilary swank. Go behind the hilary swank movie and discover the true story of the real freedom writers and their diary that inspired the film. Actors death eerily similar to film role orange county. She went on to become a professor at cal state long beach and is now the director of the freedom writers foundation, a nonprofit. 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. Long beachs freedom writers 20 years later where are they. Richard lagravenese was born on october 30, 1959 in brooklyn, new york, usa.
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. She believes that life is a war, putting up a tough front and never letting ayone in. Freedom writers 2007 directed by richard lagravenese. 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. Mar 28, 2017 this movie probably has nothing new to bring to the table. Freedom writers is a frank, formulaic entry in the inspirational innercity teacher genre, with an energetic hilary swank leading the appealing cast of unknowns. Freedom writers diarys was delivered in very good condition. Swank plays erin gruwell in the film, which recounts ms. The feature film, freedom writers, starring hilary swank hit theaters in 2008. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them. 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. The movie was first released on january 5th 2007 in the usa, and on may 18th 2007 in norway.
The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. 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. The movie has gone on to inspire countless students and. A young teacher inspires her class of atrisk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves and pursue education beyond high school. 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. Freedom writers 49 movie clip i am home 2007 hd youtube. 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. The portrayal of a long beach high school in freedom writers raises hackles in the city. What visual techniques are used in freedom writers. 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.
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. 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. 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. This also is the 10th anniversary of the freedom writers movie starring. Actors death eerily similar to film role share this. 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 lagravenese screenplay, freedom writers book 1 more credit stars. 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. Freedom writers characters eva eva has had a tough life.
It is the basis of the 2007 movie freedom writers, starring. Paramount pictures worked closely with erin and the freedom writers to adapt a script from the successful book. With hilary swank, imelda staunton, patrick dempsey, scott glenn. 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. Gruwell s class to his seminar, steven spielberg, the famous movie director who created schindlers list, invites them to universal studios. Swank plays erin gruwell, the reallife teacher at long. Oct 30, 2017 the freedom writers, including erin gruwell front, center, in 1999. Hillary swank was one of the movies executive producers. Hilary swank stars in this story about a teacher in a racially divided school who gives her students what theyve always needed a voice. The plot is gritty with some thought provoking sayings and scenes.
Freedom writers 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors. The movieclips channel is the largest collection of licensed movie clips on the web. 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. Freedom writers 2007 rotten tomatoes movie trailers.
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. The director of the movie is richard lagravenese and the screenwriters. What visual techniques has there been used to show. He admires their racial and ethnic diversity but, most importantly, their unity as a class and their academic achievements. 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 is a 2007 american drama film written and directed by richard lagravenese. Freedom writers dairys was actually a book written by erwins pupils. Cohn now is executive director for the california collaborative for. On some level, just about any movie featuring neversaydie. You can always make variations on familiar story lines. In freedom writers, enthusiastic and innocent teacher erin gruwell hilary swank arrives at a high school in long beach just after the l.
Freedom writers cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. In the movie freedom writers, we see that erin gruwell takes the kids to the holocaust museum. 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. Its this last part that makes director richard lagraveneses film work, despite its many cliches. 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. Her father was a latino gang member, resulting in her becoming a thirdgeneration gang member. 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. Despite her youth and inexperience, erin is certainly praiseworthy for her passion to see kids escape the prison of their surroundings through proper education. I am one of the judges for the heartland film festivals truly moving picture award. 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. I saw this film on december th, 2006 in indianapolis. Based on a true story and the diaries of real long beach teenagers after the l.
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