Free Writers Movie Review
It was the year of 1992, in the city of
Los Angeles, when large widespread riots were sparked. On April 29th, a jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers accused of the videotaped beating of African-American motorist Rodney
King following a high-speed pursuit through the city.
After that day, and the 6 that followed, thousands of people rioted through the city, angered by the verdict. Damages of around US$1 billion dollars were incurred, and 53 people died along with thousands more injured.
Based on the best-seller novel ‘The
Freedom Writers Diary’ by Erin Gruwell, director and writer Richard LaGravenese
– best known for his films “P.S. I Love
You”, “Paris, je t'aime”, and “The Fisher
King”, which earned him an Academy
Award nomination – sets his film in Long
Beach, California, just after the riots occurred.
“True stories resonate with me”, Says Swank
We’re first introduced to Eva, an innocent young girl of Latino decent brought up in a lifestyle of drive-by shootings and a world full of prejudice. Whilst playing in her home, Eva, naïve and unaware of what is happening around her, watches as white policemen take away her innocent father to be locked up forever.
Eva’s whole world is turned up side down and as she grows into a young woman, she becomes accustomed to the ways of the city. “In Long Beach, it all comes down to what you look like. It’s all about colour. If you’re Latino or Asian or
Black you can get blasted any time you walk out your door”; and this is what
LaGravenese created this film about.
Hilary Swank plays the role of Erin
Gruwell in this gripping and emotional story of inner city kids born and raised into violence, death and drugs.
First time teacher, Erin, is an idealistic
24-year-old straight out of college. She is dropped into Roe Wilson High School, a formerly high-achieving school, which had recently had an integration program put in place. As her first teaching position,
Erin
Los Angeles, when large widespread riots were sparked. On April 29th, a jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers accused of the videotaped beating of African-American motorist Rodney
King following a high-speed pursuit through the city.
After that day, and the 6 that followed, thousands of people rioted through the city, angered by the verdict. Damages of around US$1 billion dollars were incurred, and 53 people died along with thousands more injured.
Based on the best-seller novel ‘The
Freedom Writers Diary’ by Erin Gruwell, director and writer Richard LaGravenese
– best known for his films “P.S. I Love
You”, “Paris, je t'aime”, and “The Fisher
King”, which earned him an Academy
Award nomination – sets his film in Long
Beach, California, just after the riots occurred.
“True stories resonate with me”, Says Swank
We’re first introduced to Eva, an innocent young girl of Latino decent brought up in a lifestyle of drive-by shootings and a world full of prejudice. Whilst playing in her home, Eva, naïve and unaware of what is happening around her, watches as white policemen take away her innocent father to be locked up forever.
Eva’s whole world is turned up side down and as she grows into a young woman, she becomes accustomed to the ways of the city. “In Long Beach, it all comes down to what you look like. It’s all about colour. If you’re Latino or Asian or
Black you can get blasted any time you walk out your door”; and this is what
LaGravenese created this film about.
Hilary Swank plays the role of Erin
Gruwell in this gripping and emotional story of inner city kids born and raised into violence, death and drugs.
First time teacher, Erin, is an idealistic
24-year-old straight out of college. She is dropped into Roe Wilson High School, a formerly high-achieving school, which had recently had an integration program put in place. As her first teaching position,
Erin