Everyone has their own story. We all come from different backgrounds and upbringings, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have similarities as well, in fact we are more similar than we think. The film “Freedom Writers” is a powerful one that is based on the true story of Erin Gruwell, a dedicated teacher who inspires and changes at-risk students to embrace their differences and share their stories through writing.
This film addresses issues such as racism, violence, and challenges on education which is very relevant in today’s society. Hilary Swank, who plays Gruwell, does a very good job of showcasing her passion and determination to impact the students and change their perspectives and embracing each other’s differences. The students are played by a talented ensemble cast that bring authenticity, and more depth into their characters, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of young individuals from various diverse backgrounds.
A scene that was really important and meaningful was when Gruwell started her class with a simple, yet meaningful game that opened her students eyes on understanding everyone’s differences and stories. Gruwell had her students split up into two lines standing across from each other and were asked questions, if the question applied to them they would step up to the middle line, this was called the line game. At first the questions were just questions related to music and films, where students still had problems with each other.
Then, the questions started to get more personal and made the students realize that they had more similarities than they would’ve thought. Most of the students grew up in poverty and in areas that are affiliated with gangs and violence. An important question that came up and changed the looks on students’ faces was “Stand on the line if you’ve lost a friend to gang violence.” You can see the mood shift and things start to lighten from this tension of disagreement. The class takes a moment to pay respect to those that have been taken from gang violence.
The importance of telling your own story and embracing it is a big part of accepting others’ stories because you have to realize that everyone has their own story and is the way they are because of those stories. Gruwell introduces journaling to the students afterward to let them express their own story and let their stories be heard. This helps Gruwellunderstand the students’ tension toward each other to a deeper level and makes her want to help them understand each other even more. The use of journals as a storytelling device in the film adds a personal touch that allows the viewers to connect with the students’ experiences, which is impactful because it focuses on real world issues and the resilience of its characters.
Overall, “Freedom Writers” is an inspiring watch that is engaging and is a thought-provoking film that encourages viewers to realize differences in stories and embrace the power of education.
