Freedom Writers movie review, analysis and film criticism for advanced ESL students based on the English Immersion Program
Freedom Writers movie trailer
Watch Freedom Writers movie trailer below to get more familiar with this film.
Freedom Writers movie review
Since its release, Freedom Writers has become a topic of conversation in the reshaping of teaching styles, especially in classrooms with at-risk children. Following the success of The Freedom Writers Diary, Erin Gruwell founded the Freedom Writers Foundation. The non-profit encourages a more diverse and inclusive classroom experience with the specific goal of providing further educational opportunities for minority and at-risk students. Gruwell, the original Freedom Writers featured in the book (many of whom are now educators), and other educators have crafted training programs for educators to help their students succeed and pursue higher education.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions for discussion
- The film shows a transformation in the relationships between the students in Ms. Gruwell’s class. How did the use of literature and writing help these students overcome prejudice and build a sense of community?
- The diary of Anne Frank plays a significant role in Freedom Writers. What is the symbolic meaning of the diary in the film, and how does it connect to the students’ experiences?
- Ms. Gruwell uses several unconventional teaching methods in the film. Discuss two of these methods and explain how they might be effective or ineffective in real-world classrooms.
Please answer the 3 questions raised in the discussion section of the body of this post.
1. By using literature, writing, and reading books that had similarities with students’ lives, they began to feel understood and could empathize with the stories.
2. “The Diary of Anne Frank” is a diary of a young Jewish girl during World War II. During that time, she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in a Dutch house. She wrote about her life and the difficulties they faced. The students of Class 203 could relate to her pain and experiences because each of them had their own problems similar to Anne Frank’s, stemming from their backgrounds and experiences with racism.
3. Ms.Gruwell used a practical method to cultivate a sense of empathy among the children. They realized that they were all facing similar challenges. While not all of her methods may be applicable in every class or for all age groups, it was effective for Class 203. They set aside prejudices, formed strong friendships and improved their grades.
Such a comprehensive review on the film, Freedom Writers! Thank you so much.
The maxim of ‘misery loves company’ can perfectly refer to the critical situation the majority of the students were dealing with. When the students realized that they were not the only people who were mistreated and abused, they became less violent and belligerent, and they decided to bury the hatchet.
The role of literature and diary writing had a profound impact on the students’ welfare and wellbeing, which is referred to as catharsis.