Movie Review: Freedom Writers (2007)
Ref: Freedom Writers (2007)
“We’re gonna make a toast for change… from this moment on, every voice that [has] told you ‘You Can’t’ is silenced. Every reason that tells you things will never change, disappears… now it’s your turn”
Cons and Nit-picking
One thing that threw me off was the over-dramatization of the “evil Principal” and the racist teacher versus the kids and I just thought it was a bit of a stretch to have it kind-of structured in a way that it’s so clear and distinct that there are the Good Guys and there are the Bad Guys because that’s not how it works in reality but the point was definitely made by this clear distinction so it doesn’t bother me just as much I just thought that it may have been a stretch (lol). Thinking about it again, the film was made through a liberal perspective and so it played out as a sort of political stance on the school system and how it functioned so that’s probably why it was made out in that way.
Another great concept that the film focuses on is something that I’d love to call: “victim oppression”, where not only are these students the victims of the lives that they live but they are also given the title of the oppressors. It is their fault that the school has gone to shit, it is their fault that people fear going out on the streets at night, it is their fault it is their fault it is their fault. Not only do they face with their own lives, on surviving and how they’ll manage with their families and homelife, but they are also faced with the stereotypes and negativity of the system that they are also depending on.
Knowing that Erin is a real person and that she has made accomplishments like this in REAL LIFE, makes me more and more happy to know that good people do exist in this world. To be able to do whatever that is in your vicinity to help others despite it breaking you and tearing your life apart, to be able to genuinely be concerned for your fellow man… I think that is the most beautiful thing in the entire world. I cried many times watching this film, it was a very heartwarming and touching piece that allowed us a piece of reality that is not so heavily focused on or considered.
This film is based off of a true story with a published booked called The Freedom Writers Diary in 1999 written by Erin Gruwell. I remember watching this film as a kid and understanding faintly what was going on as the tv lights flickered in my eyes, I didn’t understand much but I knew that it was a story that I needed to come back to when I was older and so I did.
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Quotes: ------------------
“We’re gonna make a toast for change… from this moment on, every voice that [has] told you ‘You Can’t’ is silenced. Every reason that tells you things will never change, disappears… now it’s your turn”
“Nobody ever listens to a teenager. Everybody just thinks you should be happy just because you’re young. They don’t see the wars that we fight every single day. And one day, my war will not end. And I will not die”.
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Concept and PerspectiveThis film speaks many words that everyone always pushes aside, it gives you a different perspective on the differences between school life and home life, how they both collide, and how children and teenagers are affected by it (primarily in public schools / inner-city schools). This is yet again another strong recommendation in my book. It is a film that I think people need to see the importance of because it displays not only the true realities of the world but the pure genuine passion, spirit, and love for humanity. This film focuses on things that aren’t so focused on in the school system, a world that many teachers and many officials overlook… people don’t take the time to understand your life and where you’ve come up from, but Erin made the change to.
Technicalities and Functioning
I think the film does in many way, allow the audience a view of the 3rd perspective, it is not as intimate and as close as we would want it to be but it is essentially the essence of looking through a window and seeing a world that we don’t normally see. We are given the perspective of Erin Gruwell, the teacher, who is the outsider looking in. It may or may not be a good thing to have such a perspective because for starters, it may seem to isolate us and allow us to disassociate ourselves from the characters. We, in turn, can watch the film and at the end think “well I’m glad that isn’t me”. But it also allows us to question our existence in this reality of the film, where do we stand and how do the characters show in the film relate to those around us and so essentially it allows us to recognize the context in which others grow up and learn more about them (so it’s not all a bad thing to have such a perspective). Technicalities and Functioning
Cons and Nit-picking
One thing that threw me off was the over-dramatization of the “evil Principal” and the racist teacher versus the kids and I just thought it was a bit of a stretch to have it kind-of structured in a way that it’s so clear and distinct that there are the Good Guys and there are the Bad Guys because that’s not how it works in reality but the point was definitely made by this clear distinction so it doesn’t bother me just as much I just thought that it may have been a stretch (lol). Thinking about it again, the film was made through a liberal perspective and so it played out as a sort of political stance on the school system and how it functioned so that’s probably why it was made out in that way.
Content
As this is a film based on a true story, I think it does a phenomenal job at trying to illustrate a more modern or at least near-modern story in which can be a reflection of what’s happening right now (or at least in real time). Because the film was made in 2007 and was said to have taken place in the late 90s, we don’t see as much of what is going on in the film around us as much now (though it does NOT mean that they are still not occurring, it’s just not as concentrated as it was before).
The concept and theme still stands and is strongly expressed between the differences in class and race of both Erin and her students. There was also a repeated concept that has been expressed all throughout the film that I wanted to highlight and that is: representation in the media is important for both influence and success. One of the students made a statement that asked the question (and really implied the space for thought): “if I don’t see anyone in the media that is rich and wealthy and successful that looks like me, how do you expect me to be anywhere besides from the bottom?” Representation is a powerful thing. It is a reflection of how people think of themselves and really how their own society thinks of them. If you are constantly represented negatively and constantly demonized in the media, how does that play in the role of how you see yourselves, your friends and family members? How will that affect the way that you act and behave and carry yourself?
As this is a film based on a true story, I think it does a phenomenal job at trying to illustrate a more modern or at least near-modern story in which can be a reflection of what’s happening right now (or at least in real time). Because the film was made in 2007 and was said to have taken place in the late 90s, we don’t see as much of what is going on in the film around us as much now (though it does NOT mean that they are still not occurring, it’s just not as concentrated as it was before).
The concept and theme still stands and is strongly expressed between the differences in class and race of both Erin and her students. There was also a repeated concept that has been expressed all throughout the film that I wanted to highlight and that is: representation in the media is important for both influence and success. One of the students made a statement that asked the question (and really implied the space for thought): “if I don’t see anyone in the media that is rich and wealthy and successful that looks like me, how do you expect me to be anywhere besides from the bottom?” Representation is a powerful thing. It is a reflection of how people think of themselves and really how their own society thinks of them. If you are constantly represented negatively and constantly demonized in the media, how does that play in the role of how you see yourselves, your friends and family members? How will that affect the way that you act and behave and carry yourself?
Another great concept that the film focuses on is something that I’d love to call: “victim oppression”, where not only are these students the victims of the lives that they live but they are also given the title of the oppressors. It is their fault that the school has gone to shit, it is their fault that people fear going out on the streets at night, it is their fault it is their fault it is their fault. Not only do they face with their own lives, on surviving and how they’ll manage with their families and homelife, but they are also faced with the stereotypes and negativity of the system that they are also depending on.
Knowing that Erin is a real person and that she has made accomplishments like this in REAL LIFE, makes me more and more happy to know that good people do exist in this world. To be able to do whatever that is in your vicinity to help others despite it breaking you and tearing your life apart, to be able to genuinely be concerned for your fellow man… I think that is the most beautiful thing in the entire world. I cried many times watching this film, it was a very heartwarming and touching piece that allowed us a piece of reality that is not so heavily focused on or considered.
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