Hilary Swank is outstanding

This movie is actually really good. Sure we’ve seen similar films that revolve around inner city kids on drugs and from bad homes. But I enjoyed that this premise focused on each student tell their own story, and thus allowing us to hear their struggles growing up in violent situations and how to overcome it. The teacher compares their struggles to that of the Holocaust, and from
There we form a connection.

These aren’t bad kids - they just need someone to care. I loved the classroom scenes the most because unlike Pfeiffer teaching karate, Swank explores their minds and gives them the choice on whether they want to share these experiences in private or public. It’s about trust and also, sadly, politics too.

The snide principal (played brilliantly by Imelda Staunton- an Irish actress who was nominated for an Oscar in 2005 for Vera Drake) looks down on Swank for trying to push the fourth wheel. So does her atrocious boyfriend.

Swank proves again that she’s a force not to be messed with. She brings a gentle power to her character and although we’ve heard these stories before, we’re listening this time. I highly recommend this especially to other teachers.

Final Grade: A