Freedom Writers
(Blu-ray)

Based on the book "The Freedom Writers diary: how a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them" by the Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell.

Special features: Feature-length commentary by director Richard LaGravenese and actor Hilary Swank; Making 'A dream'; Freedom writers family featurette; "Freedom writers" : the story behind the story; theatrical trailer.

Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Mario.

A true story about a teacher, in a racially divided school, who gives her students what they've always needed, a voice. Erin Gruwell, bubbling over with naive optimism, comes to a southern California high school. She quickly discovers that her unruly classroom is not easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives. This assignment is something that the class can bite into with relish, and it eventually bonds them together and pushes racial rivalries aside. The film draws heavily from the published journals of the real students themselves.

MPAA rating: PG-13; for violent content, some thematic material and language.

HD DVD (1080p); mastered in high definition, Blu-ray Disc; Dolby Digital. Special features in standard definition.

Requires a Blu-ray player.

Closed captioned; audio in English, French or Spanish; with optional subtitles in English, French or Spanish.