Radical - Eine Klasse für sich

Zalla's beautiful-photographed film, of borderlands looking at improverised youth and their education. Eugenio Derbez helms the role as a possible mentor and educator, Sergio Juarez Correa. He's a role model to students struggling economically and dealing with criminality, based on true events.

It's a slow narrative, but developing much of its characterizations within the on-screen relationship between educator (Derbez) and youth. Derbez shines within this film without any comedic antics, showing the struggle of education.

Particular Mexican young actors shine alongside his acting, playing the students overcoming adversary. One student, Paloma helemd by Jennifer Trejo shows much passion toward math and science.

All these events are based on a true event for youth achieving the highest national testing, Paloma was celebrated as the Mexican student to has the highest score in the country back in 2011-12!

Premiered at Sundance, Radical is based on the true story of a inspirational middle school teacher in an impoverished town in Mexico. Comparisons to Stand & Deliver, Dead Poet's Society, and other films based on inspirational teachers are inevitable, and perhaps you can anticipate beats in a film like this. Eugenio Derbez (who played the music teacher in CODA) is wonderful as the teacher Sergio Juarez, using unconventional means to teach about sixth grade and life. The child actors across this movie are astounding, as the director lets us see this world from both the teacher and the students. This film will undoubtedly open the floodgates about teachers and people who took the time to believe and inspire you.

This movie does a great job in showing the differences between the method of being schooled and the negative consequences it causes when you are compelled to learn what somebody else thinks you should learn, know, study, etc.

On the other hand, there is the opposite method, which is, of course, not perfect and has its flaws in its own regard, along with many unforeseeable problems it could cause.

It's 2024, and this old method seems to prevail in most parts of the world and in most schools, unfortunately. This results in feeling dead inside in the end and not caring about anything because it sucks out the joy of learning with a constant bombardment of information and what the school program thinks you should know.

Regardless of how I look at it, there needs to be serious reforms on a global scale, with minds far smarter than mine; we already have new scientific discoveries that can help us with this process.

As I said, it's a major problem and it's a worldwide one. I believe education is one of the most important tenets of a healthy world, up there with mental and physical health.

Inquiring into matters that we are interested in, asking and seeking answers to questions that come to us, sometimes with the aid of a teacher, charts an individual spin on education, makes it more interesting, and honors the mystery of this life in which we live.

I could not remember when was the last time I saw a film, where it made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry, and made me gasp. "Radical" is a must-see. Without any spoilers, a lot of heart went into this masterpiece, ranging from the talent, to the cinematography, to the direction, the casting, the production design of the environment... it was glorious to experience. There is a reason why this was a winner at Sundance. It deserved it. It's based on a true story. And you follow each individual's journey, how they are affected in their own lives, and how they affect others with their existence. It also reveals the constant problems we have with the education system, or lack of, or limitations of, or what is allowed, and what is not allowed in order to progress. The writing of the screenplay is just brilliant. I don't wish to spoil anything, just watch it. Experience it.

I just saw this Film at AMC palm 24 Early Access here in the USA, and it was Funny, Interesting, Intelligent and Heartbreaking. This film is based on a the true story in Mexico. This film almost reminds me of Freedom Writers directed by Richard LaGravenese, released in 2007.

Ever since the Sundance Film Festival acknowledged this film I was very interested knowing Eugenio Dernez was in it. I saw his film "Instructions not Included" 2013, and also "La Familia Peluche" which was a Sitcom in Mexico which had a 10 year run time and he made me feel so Nostalgic to see him again in the Big Screen.

To the OSCARS, Consider this a Candidate for Best Foreign Language Film and a Candidate for Eugenio Dernez as Best Actor!