Freedom Writers (Full Frame) (US Version) DVD Region 1

Based on actual diary accounts of several teenagers following the L.A. riots, FREEDOM WRITERS is the story of an idealistic teacher's attempts to make a difference in the lives of her at-risk students. Located in gang-ravaged Long Beach, California, Woodrow Wilson High is a hotbed of violence due to a voluntary integration program which brings Black, Latino, Asian, and White students together. Rather than having the desired effect of creating healthy diversity, this program breeds constant war between all parties involved, the result being daily gun shots, constant racial slurs, and gang violence. Played largely by young unknowns, the freshman class in question is both naïve and wise beyond its years. While never having heard of the Holocaust, these kids are well-versed in the pain of poverty, the legal system, and death. Despite being up against unthinkable violence, devoted first-time teacher Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank) never gives up, slowly bonding with her class of at-first unreachable pupils, breaking down their tough exteriors and getting at the real people beneath through requiring the students keep daily journals. Meanwhile, a strain is put on Erin's marriage as her student involvement gradually takes priority over her personal life. The intensity with which Erin relates to her work threatens her husband (Patrick Dempsey), who in seeing Erin's transformation, is reminded of his own stagnancy. Thanks to a catalogue of films including STAND AND DELIVER and DANGEROUS MINDS, any film about inspiring teachers risks feeling redundant and preachy. But writer/director Richard LaGravenese manages to put a fresh spin on this already familiar formula thanks to powerful performances by Hillary Swank, Imelda Staunton, and several newcomers. While slightly predictable, FREEDOM WRITERS critiques the public education system in an ultimately moving way.

"[S]incere, and proud of it." - Lisa, Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly Critic), Entertainment Weekly, 01/19/2007

"[A] film with a strong emotional tug and smartly laid foundation." - Manohla, Dargis (Film Critic), New York Times, 01/05/2007

3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he device of using the kids' personal stories delivers more honest uplift than many previous efforts." - James, White (Film Critic), Total Film, 04/01/2007

"It's a stirring real-life tale, and Hilary Swank is a suitably perky, excitable lead..." - Anna, Smith (Sight and Sound Critic), Sight and Sound, 04/01/2007

3 stars out of 5 -- "[A]t moments both provocative and moving....This is an engrossing true-to-life drama..." - Natalie, Braine (Ultimate DVD Critic), Ultimate DVD, 05/01/2007

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Product Title:	Freedom Writers (Full Frame) (US Version) Freedom Writers (Full Frame) (US Version) Freedom Writers (Full Frame) (US Version) Freedom Writers (Full Frame) (US Version) Freedom Writers (Full Frame) (US Version)
Artist Name(s):	Patrick Dempsey (Actor) | Mike Epps (Actor) | James Chinlund (Actor) | Hunter Parrish (Actor) | Gabriel Chavarria (Actor) | Deance Wyatt (Actor) | Kristen Herrera (Actor) | Sergio Montalvo (Actor) | Jason Finn (Actor) | Marvin J. Glenn (Actor) | Danny DeVito (Actor) | Hilary Swank (Actor) | Mark Isham (Actor) | Imelda Staunton (Actor) | Wayne Kramer (Actor) | Richard LaGravenese (Actor) 柏德烈丹斯 (Actor) | 米奇艾普斯 (Actor) | James Chinlund (Actor) | Hunter Parrish (Actor) | Gabriel Chavarria (Actor) | Deance Wyatt (Actor) | Kristen Herrera (Actor) | Sergio Montalvo (Actor) | Jason Finn (Actor) | Marvin J. Glenn (Actor) | 丹尼狄維圖 (Actor) | 希拉莉詩韻 (Actor) | Mark Isham (Actor) | Imelda Staunton (Actor) | Wayne Kramer (Actor) | 李察拿加雲尼斯 (Actor) 柏德烈丹斯 (Actor) | Mike Epps (Actor) | James Chinlund (Actor) | Hunter Parrish (Actor) | Gabriel Chavarria (Actor) | Deance Wyatt (Actor) | Kristen Herrera (Actor) | Sergio Montalvo (Actor) | Jason Finn (Actor) | Marvin J. Glenn (Actor) | 丹尼狄维图 (Actor) | 希拉莉诗韵 (Actor) | Mark Isham (Actor) | Imelda Staunton (Actor) | Wayne Kramer (Actor) | 李察拿加云尼斯 (Actor) Patrick Dempsey (Actor) | Mike Epps (Actor) | James Chinlund (Actor) | Hunter Parrish (Actor) | Gabriel Chavarria (Actor) | Deance Wyatt (Actor) | Kristen Herrera (Actor) | Sergio Montalvo (Actor) | Jason Finn (Actor) | Marvin J. Glenn (Actor) | Danny DeVito (Actor) | Ｈｉｌａｒｙ　Ｓｗａｎｋ (Actor) | Ｍａｒｋ Ｉｓｈａｍ (Actor) | Ｉｍｅｌｄａ Ｓｔａｕｎｔｏｎ (Actor) | Ｗａｙｎｅ Ｋｒａｍｅｒ (Actor) | Richard LaGravenese (Actor) Patrick Dempsey (Actor) | Mike Epps (Actor) | James Chinlund (Actor) | Hunter Parrish (Actor) | Gabriel Chavarria (Actor) | Deance Wyatt (Actor) | Kristen Herrera (Actor) | Sergio Montalvo (Actor) | Jason Finn (Actor) | Marvin J. Glenn (Actor) | Danny DeVito (Actor) | Hilary Swank (Actor) | Mark Isham (Actor) | Imelda Staunton (Actor) | Wayne Kramer (Actor) | Richard LaGravenese (Actor)
Director:	Jon Gregory Jon Gregory Jon Gregory Jon Gregory Jon Gregory
Producer:	Patrick Dempsey | Danny DeVito | Wayne Kramer | Pamela Abdy 柏德烈丹斯 | 丹尼狄維圖 | Wayne Kramer | Pamela Abdy 柏德烈丹斯 | 丹尼狄维图 | Wayne Kramer | Pamela Abdy Patrick Dempsey | Danny DeVito | Ｗａｙｎｅ Ｋｒａｍｅｒ | Pamela Abdy Patrick Dempsey | Danny DeVito | Wayne Kramer | Pamela Abdy
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Release Date:	2007-04-17
UPC Code:	097361243245
Language:	English
Country of Origin:	United States
Picture Format:	NTSC What is it?
Color Information:	Color
Disc Format(s):	DVD
Region Code:	1 - USA, Canada, U.S. Territories What is it?
Rating:	PG-13 (MPAA)
Publisher:	Paramount Home Entertainment
Package Weight:	100 (g)
Shipment Unit:	1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.:	1013044668

Director: Richard LaGravenese

DVD Features:

Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
(unspecified) - French
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English - Closed Captioned
Additional Release Material:
Featurette: "FREEDOM WRITERS Family"
Documentary: "Freedom Writers: The Story Behind the Story"
Behind the Scenes: "Making 'A Dream'"
Alternate Scenes: Deleted Scenes
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Selection
Text/Photo Galleries:
Stills/Photos