Freedom Writers Film Analysis
What techniques does the director of Freedom Writers, Richard LaGravenses, use to engage the audience?
Introduction
Freedom Writers is based on a true story set in America in 1994, where a first time teacher, played by Hilary Swank, faces a group of students who have been considered by the government to be “un-teachable and at–risk” teenagers. These students represent street kids who have all witnessed street fights as well as the murder of their friends and family. The movie demonstrates the way non-white Americans are over represented in teenage homicides, incarceration, unemployment, poverty and poor educational outcomes, but also the way they are viewed in the media. The film also has several references to ghettos, street life, drug busts …show more content…
One significant example of this is when Eva says, “White people always wanting their respect like they deserve it for free. It’s all about colour, it’s about people deciding what they deserve and wanting what they don’t deserve. About white’s thinking that they run the world no matter what, see I hate white people. ”
Eva is suggesting that she thinks white people believe they should have the respect of people because they are white, rather than because they have earned it in some way. Then she goes on to say that white people run the world and that white people can do or get anything they want because they can, because they’re white.
Eva describes how “white” people took her father away from her when she was a young girl, and how “white” police officers shot her friend in the back for no reason. This is Eva’s reason for not giving respect to “white people” including the teacher Erin. In this exchange, Erin remains calm and impassive while Eva becomes emotional, raising her voice and showing her frustration, anger and …show more content…
And what if you can’t rap a lyric or dribble a ball? It ain’t tradition… I made it to high school ain’t nobody stop me. Lady I’m lucky if I make it to 18, we in a war, we graduate everyday we living because we ain’t afraid to die protecting our own. At least when you die for your own, you die with respect.” In his use of the language of the street, the audience can empathise with Marcus’ point of view. Significantly the words, “I’m lucky if I make it to 18, we in a war, we ain’t afraid to die protecting our own,” make the audience think about the situation in which these young people live and think about how the students would
Introduction
Freedom Writers is based on a true story set in America in 1994, where a first time teacher, played by Hilary Swank, faces a group of students who have been considered by the government to be “un-teachable and at–risk” teenagers. These students represent street kids who have all witnessed street fights as well as the murder of their friends and family. The movie demonstrates the way non-white Americans are over represented in teenage homicides, incarceration, unemployment, poverty and poor educational outcomes, but also the way they are viewed in the media. The film also has several references to ghettos, street life, drug busts …show more content…
One significant example of this is when Eva says, “White people always wanting their respect like they deserve it for free. It’s all about colour, it’s about people deciding what they deserve and wanting what they don’t deserve. About white’s thinking that they run the world no matter what, see I hate white people. ”
Eva is suggesting that she thinks white people believe they should have the respect of people because they are white, rather than because they have earned it in some way. Then she goes on to say that white people run the world and that white people can do or get anything they want because they can, because they’re white.
Eva describes how “white” people took her father away from her when she was a young girl, and how “white” police officers shot her friend in the back for no reason. This is Eva’s reason for not giving respect to “white people” including the teacher Erin. In this exchange, Erin remains calm and impassive while Eva becomes emotional, raising her voice and showing her frustration, anger and …show more content…
And what if you can’t rap a lyric or dribble a ball? It ain’t tradition… I made it to high school ain’t nobody stop me. Lady I’m lucky if I make it to 18, we in a war, we graduate everyday we living because we ain’t afraid to die protecting our own. At least when you die for your own, you die with respect.” In his use of the language of the street, the audience can empathise with Marcus’ point of view. Significantly the words, “I’m lucky if I make it to 18, we in a war, we ain’t afraid to die protecting our own,” make the audience think about the situation in which these young people live and think about how the students would