Freedom Wrters is inspired by real teenagers and the diaries that
they wrote after the LA riots
Quotes:
Jamal: At sixteen, I've seen more bodies than a
mortician. Every time I step out my door I face the risk
of being shot. To the rest of the world it's just another
dead body on a street corner. They don't know that he
was my friend.
Eva: I don't even know how this war started. It's just
two sides that tripped each other way back. Who cares
about the history behind it? I am my father's daughter,
and when they call me to testify, I will protect my own, no
matter what.
Sindy: During the war in Cambodia, the camps stripped away my father's dignity. He sometimes tries
to hurt me and
my mom. I feel like I have to protect my family.
Marcus: I've never had a hero before. But you are my hero.
Miep Gies: Oh, no. No, no, no, young man, no. I am not a hero. No. I did what I had to do, because it
was the right thing to do. That is all.
Hilary Swank stars as Erin Gruwell, whose passion to become a teacher is soon challenged by a
group of Black, Latino and Asian gang members who hate her even more than each other. When Erin
begins to listen to them, she begins to understand that for these kids, getting through the day alive is
enough – they are not deviants but teenagers fighting ‘a war on the streets’ that began long before
they were born. Erin gives them something they never had from a teacher before – respect. For the
first time, these teens experience a hope that maybe they might show the world hat their lives matter
ad they have something to say…
Miss Mackenzie BSH 2012
Personal Development Skills.
1. How does this film link in with work you have done so far in PDS?
2. Which elements of Freedom Writers did you find the most interesting or significant?
3. What would you say is the ‘Unique selling point’ of the film?
Heroism and Leaders
4. Miep Gies, the daughter of the family that sheltered Anne Frank is th ‘hero’ of one of the students.
She says that all the ids are ‘heros’
a. Why does she say this?
b. What qulaities make a ‘hero’
c. Who is the ‘hero’ of the film?
d. How are heros and leaders similar?
e. How are leaders and heros different?
f. Who are your hero’s – why?
5. Choose one character from the film and write a diary entry. It should represent the character, and
should include some information about them as a person. You may write it in an informative way,
or in a creative way.
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN YOUR PDS WORKBOOK.
Miss Mackenzie BSH 2012