Everything about this movie just drags me in. It's realistic, it relates to teens, it's touching, and had great meaning. The bad stuff we can handle; It's meant for meaning, and everyone can learn from it, I don't have to say no more.
Freedom Writers
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Familiar plot has a strong, inspirational message.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Freedom Writers was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that, thanks to its hip-hop soundtrack and rebellious teen characters, this drama about high school students will appeal to many kids. It deals with some mature themes -- gang violence, loss of a friend or family member, the Holocaust -- in tasteful, if formulaic, ways. Violent scenes include fighting on campus and a street shooting (a boy is killed, his bloody chest visible). Kids argue with each other and their teacher, disrespecting her verbally and laughing at her. Students discuss the Holocaust, Anne Frank, and meet a survivor who describes her ordeal. Students write about their losses in their journals, which the teacher reads out loud or in voiceover (these are sad moments). Language includes several uses of "s--t," "damn," and one use of the n-word in anger (the context is a student journal description of police abuses).
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the way that Erin engages her students -- by listening to them. How is this an effective way to teach? How do the students learn from one other when they share their stories? How is the Holocaust a helpful historical example for these "at-risk" students? What do they learn from Anne Frank's ability to see beauty in the world even in her bleak situation? How does Erin's dedication to her students affect her personal life? What other movies is this one similar to? What sets it apart?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Freedom Writers
What’s the Story?
In FREEDOM WRITERS, enthusiastic and innocent teacher Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) arrives at a high school in Long Beach just after the L.A. uprising in 1992, aiming to follow in her civil rights activist father's footsteps. Erin's first few days at school are daunting: She witnesses a fight, sees a boy pull out a gun, and endures taunts from her students, who see themselves as their other teachers see them: the "ghetto-ass class" unworthy of attention or time. Erin is also discouraged by her cynical colleagues but she persists, seeking ways to connect with her students. Finally, one of them -- distrustful Eva (April Lee Hernandez) -- explains her rage: "White people running this world," she says. "I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket. They can because they're white. I hate white people on sight." Erin realizes that since her students self-segregate by race, they never learn one another's stories. So, she has them stand together in the classroom when they've shared an experience, like losing a friend to violence. They begin to recognize their similarities. As the students write about their lives in a "war zone," Erin also has them visit L.A.'s Holocaust museum and read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Moved by Frank's story, the kids raise money to bring Miep Gies (Pat Carroll), the woman who hid Frank from the Nazis, to campus.
Is It Any Good?
This deeply earnest drama follows a familiar storyline. An idealistic young teacher inspires her "at-risk" urban students to respect each other and themselves. She's white, they're mostly of color; she's clueless about their harsh lives, they initially resent her cluelessness but learn to appreciate her efforts to understand them. It's this last part that makes director Richard LaGravenese's film work, despite its many clichés. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) makes a difference by asking her students to talk to her and each other -- and acting on what they say.
The plot is predicable, the actors too old to play high school students, and the pacing too slow. And really, the camera circles around deep-thinking faces a few too many times. But Freedom Writers also argues for listening to teenagers. That in itself makes it a rare and close-to-wonderful thing.
Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Director: Richard LaGravenese
Run time: 123 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/4/2007, DVD release: 4/17/2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violent content, some thematic material and language.
Run time: 123 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/4/2007, DVD release: 4/17/2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violent content, some thematic material and language.
Our Members Say
See 42 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
Why, I first watched it on a youth TV station.
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I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
I LOVE THE MOVIE CAUSE IT TELLS U ALOT ABOUT ALL THE VILANCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
GREAT STORY
When i watched this movie i could not believe that it was a true story that only happened in 1994! I just couldent believe what these highschool kids where going through. Some of it was so horrible and cruel it kinda scared me. But i still love it and its a wonderful story!!!!!!! The iffy stuff about this movie is highschool student's disrespect there teachers. They also call the teacher swears and eachother swears. Theres a LOT of vilonce. Including one disturbing image of a dead man with blood coming out of his back. Also there are several gunshots and some talk about the horrors of the holocaust.
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!! I watched it twice in a row. And cried several times! It is a heart warming movie that ALL kids would love. They write in journals about there experiences and it was just wonderful! Hilary Swank was truly amazing! Wonderful!
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
A Good Movie For High School Juniors and Seniors
Violence is an issue for me. I don't like having people, particularly in my home watch very violent films. It is rather violent, but does deliver a certain message that may be very important to certain individuals.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
my life
I love it... :)
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
my life
I love it... :)
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I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
...you must watch this, it is veri inspiring movie....
i lve this movie,, I hope every youth and teacher or student must watch this kind of movie, because it make us realize that we had a freedom to express or true emotion in a way of writing it. It makes me feel that I am so blessed that I don't have a love ones kill in font of me, and I live in a peaceful place and have a peaceful life. I hope everyone must appreciate this movie and gain a knowledge how life is important.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Great moving and inspirational movie for tweens but not for young kids.
TERRIFIC movie!!! A lot of swearing including two uses of the the f- word but you can only hear one well. There is some blood and shooting and disturbing fights between kids but nothing to bad. It also may be harder to understand for younger audiences. Very inspirational.
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
It was a great movie
I love the movie. It really taught me something about how other people have to live. It taught me that I am very lucky. I saw how some people live. When I saw the movie I wanted to help people who live this way, or people who go to a schools like that. there are some bloody violence but over all it's ok. But if your 12 or younger I would see it with an adult.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Inspirational
Freedom Writers was a very attention-grabbing film. It made me realize how lucky I was to not have to worry about being shot the moment I stepped out my front door. In the beginning of the movie, I knew Mrs. G (Hilary Swank) was in for a big shock on her first day of teaching. She adjusted fairly quickly to the attitudes of her class, but she didn't give up on them like other teachers in the school had. She knew that they were yearning to be understood. If all teachers were like her (and this was based on a true story), I think the world would be a better place. Freedom Writers is a MUST see!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
cool
i loved it
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I rate this title on and give it
it was a cool movie dis describes me and how i live its life!!
i simply think dis is a great movie it shows how others live and what they have to go through. yeah i get it dat somtimes its painful but life is life and we gotta get used to, u get what im saying camarada?
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I rate this title on and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
This movie is sooooooooo wonderful!!!!! It is very insperational. See it!!!!!! I recomend this movie to everyone 10+.
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I rate this title on and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
absolutley great!!! for everyone 10+
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I rate this title on and give it
The movie of the YEAR!
I loved this movie!! It make you want to cry about 10 times!
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I rate this title on and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
Great movie of change and hope
A movie of terrible realities and hope.
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