“Stand and Deliver”, 1988
Director: Ramón Menéndez
A biographical drama film based on the true story of high school math teacher Jaime Escalante (played by Edward James Olmos), who successfully inspired his underperforming students to learn calculus and pass the Advanced Placement exams.
Starring: Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rosanna DeSoto, Andy Garcia, Estelle Harris, Mark Phelan, Virginia Paris, Eliot, Adelaida Alvarez, Will Gotay;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Stand and Deliver” on the website imdb.com
“Dangerous Minds”, 1995
Director: John N. Smith
Michelle Pfeiffer stars as LouAnne Johnson, an ex-Marine who becomes a teacher in a tough inner-city school and uses unconventional teaching methods to connect with her students and foster their academic growth.
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Courtney B. Vance, Robin Bartlett, Beatrice Winde, John Neville, Lorraine Toussaint, Renoly Santiago, Wade Dominguez, Bruklin Harris;
Production year: 1995;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 99 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,5;
More information about the film “Dangerous Minds” on the website imdb.com
“The Great Debaters”, 2007
Director: Denzel Washington
Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, this film is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Texas who inspired students to form the school's first debate team, challenging the social norms of the segregated South in the 1930s.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Forest Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Devyn A. Tyler;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “The Great Debaters” on the website imdb.com
“Freedom Writers”, 2006
Director: Richard LaGravenese
This drama follows Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell, a young teacher in a racially divided Los Angeles school who encourages her students to write their diaries in book form, which helps them to deal with their conflicts and take control of their education.
Starring: Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, April Hernandez Castillo, Mario, Robert Wisdom, John Benjamin Hickey, Kristin Herrera, Jacklyn Ngan;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Freedom Writers” on the website imdb.com
“The History Boys”, 2006
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Adapted from Alan Bennett's play of the same name, the film portrays a group of bright and unruly British schoolboys pursuing spots at Oxford and Cambridge, guided by their eccentric and controversial teachers.
Starring: Samuel Anderson, James Corden, Stephen Campbell Moore, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Andrew Knott, Russell Tovey, Jamie Parker, Dominic Cooper, Samuel Barnett;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “The History Boys” on the website imdb.com
“Lean on Me”, 1989
Director: John G. Avildsen
Morgan Freeman stars as Joe Clark, a real-life principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose controversial, tough-love approach is credited with turning around a troubled inner-city high school.
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume, Alan North, Lynne Thigpen, Robin Bartlett, Michael Beach, Ethan Phillips, Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Sloane Shelton;
Production year: 1989;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 108 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Lean on Me” on the website imdb.com
“Precious”, 2009
Director: Lee Daniels
Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, the film focuses on Claireece “Precious” Jones, played by Gabourey Sidibe, a young woman struggling with a difficult home life who seeks an alternative education that offers her a chance to escape poverty and abuse.
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Stephanie Andujar, Chyna Layne, Amina Robinson, Xosha Roquemore;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Precious” on the website imdb.com
“Mona Lisa Smile”, 2003
Director: Mike Newell
Julia Roberts plays Katherine Watson, an art history professor who takes a teaching position at Wellesley College in 1953. She encourages her female students to pursue a more progressive path than the societal norms of marriage and housewifery.
Starring: Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dominic West, Juliet Stevenson, Marcia Gay Harden, John Slattery, Marian Seldes;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,5;
More information about the film “Mona Lisa Smile” on the website imdb.com
These films touch on a variety of education-related issues, including pedagogical methods, societal challenges, and personal growth, often leaving audiences with a profound message about the importance of education and the role of educators.
In conclusion, films about education serve as powerful narratives that delve into the complexities, challenges, and triumphs within the academic landscape. From inspirational tales of teachers overcoming insurmountable odds to bring out the best in their students, as seen in “Stand and Deliver,” to raw depictions of institutional failures in movies like “The Class,” these cinematic works mirror the societal importance and diverse facets of educational experiences. They elicit a range of emotions, prompt critical discussions, and often leave audiences with poignant messages about the transformative power of learning. Whether through the lens of comedy, drama, or documentary, films about education underscore the universal truth that knowledge is not just a gateway to personal growth, but also a cornerstone of societal advancement.
