Freedom writers / Paramount Pictures presents in association with MTV Films ; Jersey Films/Double Feature Films Production ; directed by Richard LaGravenese ; screenplay by Richard LaGravenese ; produced by Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher.
Based on the book: The Freedom Writers diary: how a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them / by the Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell. Special features: Feature-length commentary by director Richard LaGravenese and actor Hilary Swank; deleted scenes; Making a dream (6 min.); Freedom Writers family (20 min.); Freedom Writers : the story behind the story / produced and edited by Tracey Durning (c2006) (10 min.) Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April Lee Hernandez, Mario, Kristin Herrera, Jacklyn Ngan, Sergio Montalvo, Jason Finn, Deance Wyatt, Vanetta Smith, Gabriel Chavarria, Hunter Parrish.
Summary:
A true story about a teacher in a racially divided school who gives her students what they've always needed, a voice. Erin Gruwell comes to a southern California high school bubbling over with naive optimism. She quickly discovers that her unruly classroom is not easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives, This assignment is something that the class can bite into with relish. This eventually bonds them together and pushes racial rivalries aside. Draws heavily from the published journals of the real students themselves.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.