Joining the list of inspiring films about brilliant teachers like Stand and Deliver and Dead Poets Society, Radical is set in a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence. A frustrated teacher (Eugenio Derbez) tries a radical new method to unleash the curiosity and potential of his students… and maybe even their genius. Based on a true story and winner of the Festival Favorite award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Radical will make you think about the best teachers you’ve had the good fortune to meet. (Thinking of you, Ray Schaefer!) We open the movie this Friday at the Town Center, Newhall, Claremont and Monica Film Center.
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“Christopher Zalla’s truth-based drama is a rarity, a crowd-pleaser about an unorthodox 6th-grade school teacher and his students that actually earns its stand-up-and-cheer status.” Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury News
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“Destined to bring a tear to even the most hardened of viewers, Radical is a genuinely delightful reimagining of a tale we might have mistakenly believed had run its course.” ~ Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, AWFJ.org
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“Comes to a stirring close that balances optimism with a side of heartbreak for those kids who lack access to the right resources.” ~ Tomris Laffly, Variety
“Zalla teaches a lesson on how to deliver an affirming, emotional gut punch.” ~ Johnny Oleksinski, New York Post
“Derbez, always a charismatic screen presence, is at his best interacting with young people.” ~ Nell Minow, RogerEbert.com
“Those who inspired Radical deserved to be celebrated, and it’s likely that a mass-appealing filmic interpretation of their against-the-odds accomplishments might function as the farthest-reaching vehicle to disseminate them.” ~ Carlos Aguilar, indieWire