Freedom Writers

What is freedom? Those of us who are blessed to do whatever we want, and whenever we want can possibly never understand what some people go through every single day of their lives! Their existence is a struggle..their life is a battle....and they fight for survival and yearn for freedom every day of their life! "Freedom Writers" is an inspiring story of such people.

Based on a true story of high school students in Long Beach, California in the 1990s, it is a very inspiring and touching movie. The story revolves around Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank), a first time teacher in Wilson High School, who is assigned a freshman English class which is a diverse group of racially charged teenagers. The kids are rebellious; they have been taught to fight for their "own" people all their life. Racial conflicts and wars take a priority over education. As the story progresses, we see the transformation of the students, and the efforts of the teacher. Erin's teaching methods and ways to connect with the students touch the heart! The way she relates their lives to education is very impressive...some scenes like the "line game", "visit to the museum", "cartoon", "journal writing", and many more leave a long lasting impression on the mind.

As far as performances go, Hilary Swank has done a swell job! She is Erin Gruwell to a T! Some of the other strong performances include April Hernandez (as Eva), Mario (as Andre), Deance Wyatt (as Jamal), Jason Finn (as Marcus).

All in all, a very impressive movie. A must watch for everyone who likes true stories, or needs some inspiration in life. The movie truly motivates you to take life in its stride, and work towards making it better, rather than succumbing to unfavorable circumstances. This powerful and poignant movie will definitely make a lasting impression on your heart!