Dangerous Minds
The title of the film I’m going to tell you about is Dangerous Minds, directed by John N. Smith. It is distinguished by its hand-picked cast - Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Robin Bartlett. What is worth mentioning is the real background for the film. Dangerous Minds was adapted from a memoir by Lou Anne Johnson entitled -My Posse Don't Do Homework.
When a retired U.S. Marine, LouAnne Johnson, decides to become a teacher, she is given a class of tough, street-wise kids, involved in gangs and drugs. Her initially meek demeanor, small stature, and white skin earn her the nickname "white bread" from her students. Determined to have them trust and respect her, she quickly changes her presentation, wearing leather jackets, teaching karate to her students and cursing in the classroom. Creating her own curriculum for her "socially challenged" class, she starts having them read poetry, using Bob Dylan lyrics to teach symbolism. Johnson rewards her students for their hard work by giving them candy bars to say good job, toy prizes and trip to a boardwalk theme park. Along with helping her students with school work, she also provides emotional support to several students, including a couple of wise-cracking boys who are too caught up in street politics for their own good, and a teen who's dealing with the reality of being pregnant in high school. Although she intends to leave at the end of the year, the students quote the lyrics of a Dylan Thomas poem that they learned and insist that she's their "light" and refuse to let her leave. Touched, she agrees to stay.
I’m deeply impressed by the way Luanne made the teens listen to her. At first I thought it would be impossible. She ultimately gets them to open up to learning and literature, through a combination of bribery (candy bars) and intimidation (her karate training from the Marines comes in handy), and she's able to reach out to the students who need her the most: Callie, a bright girl who believes she's thrown away her future when she becomes pregnant; Emilio, a macho bully whose violence is stifling his academic potential; and Raul, the brightest kid in the class, who is afraid to show his intelligence.
Although the story is based on a real one, such stories always seem almost impossible for me. It’s too difficult to grow up some kind of hope and will in neglected children and only strong persons can do it, but not at once. Michele Pfeifer is great in the film. She managed to express real excitement, resolution and fearlessness. Despite her fragile appearance she played a role of a strong and experienced woman and did brilliantly.
“Dangerous Minds" is indeed a powerful, emotionally charged film that knocked me over the head with its solid acting, its skillful manipulation of the emotions and the true-to-life ABC of teaching. Really, I’m grateful to have such a thought provoking film in my collection. I think, it does deserve watching.
The title of the film I’m going to tell you about is Dangerous Minds, directed by John N. Smith. It is distinguished by its hand-picked cast - Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Robin Bartlett. What is worth mentioning is the real background for the film. Dangerous Minds was adapted from a memoir by Lou Anne Johnson entitled -My Posse Don't Do Homework.
When a retired U.S. Marine, LouAnne Johnson, decides to become a teacher, she is given a class of tough, street-wise kids, involved in gangs and drugs. Her initially meek demeanor, small stature, and white skin earn her the nickname "white bread" from her students. Determined to have them trust and respect her, she quickly changes her presentation, wearing leather jackets, teaching karate to her students and cursing in the classroom. Creating her own curriculum for her "socially challenged" class, she starts having them read poetry, using Bob Dylan lyrics to teach symbolism. Johnson rewards her students for their hard work by giving them candy bars to say good job, toy prizes and trip to a boardwalk theme park. Along with helping her students with school work, she also provides emotional support to several students, including a couple of wise-cracking boys who are too caught up in street politics for their own good, and a teen who's dealing with the reality of being pregnant in high school. Although she intends to leave at the end of the year, the students quote the lyrics of a Dylan Thomas poem that they learned and insist that she's their "light" and refuse to let her leave. Touched, she agrees to stay.
I’m deeply impressed by the way Luanne made the teens listen to her. At first I thought it would be impossible. She ultimately gets them to open up to learning and literature, through a combination of bribery (candy bars) and intimidation (her karate training from the Marines comes in handy), and she's able to reach out to the students who need her the most: Callie, a bright girl who believes she's thrown away her future when she becomes pregnant; Emilio, a macho bully whose violence is stifling his academic potential; and Raul, the brightest kid in the class, who is afraid to show his intelligence.
Although the story is based on a real one, such stories always seem almost impossible for me. It’s too difficult to grow up some kind of hope and will in neglected children and only strong persons can do it, but not at once. Michele Pfeifer is great in the film. She managed to express real excitement, resolution and fearlessness. Despite her fragile appearance she played a role of a strong and experienced woman and did brilliantly.
“Dangerous Minds" is indeed a powerful, emotionally charged film that knocked me over the head with its solid acting, its skillful manipulation of the emotions and the true-to-life ABC of teaching. Really, I’m grateful to have such a thought provoking film in my collection. I think, it does deserve watching.
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