When is the last time you saw a decent film about teaching? It’s been a while, right? Stand and Deliver came out in 1986 … Dead Poets Society was 1989 … Dangerous Minds was in 1995. Have we had one since? Does Freedom Writers count? How about The Whale? I know, I know … School of Rock.
No, I think it is safe to say Hollywood hasn’t cared a whole heckuvalot about educating Generation Z. Good luck kids. I’m sure TikTok has a relevant video or two for you.
Today’s film, Radical, left me feeling a lot more satisfied than -say- Dead Poets Society. On the latter, I’ve always thought, “Yeah, the teacher is great and all; thank goodness someone is brave enough to educate snotty white prep school brats.” Radical is the story of Sergio Juarez Correa (Eugenio Derbez), a middle class Mexican nobody who deliberately chose to teach at the primary school with the worst reputation in the land. And he chose to teach them as unconventionally as teaching gets.
“What do you want to learn? Nothing? Ok, I’m good with that.” (Sits in a chair, opens up a newspaper)
When we meet Señor Juárez. Lo siento – “Profesor Juárez” – he has overturned every desk in the classroom and insists his class is on a sinking ship and these are the lifeboats, but they have to balance, people-wise. How? Then comes the question of floatation. What makes an object float on water?
I don’t know the answer to that question. Do you? Well, Profesor Juárez didn’t know the answer either, so the class went on an impromptu field trip to the school library – which requires 24 hours advance notice. Why? So they can display the book? The class quickly discovers how bereft their resources are; the school has no computer facilities, and the library boasts 90% empty shelves except for one boasting an encyclopedia set missing half of its volumes.
Profesor Juárez isn’t phased. His approach to teaching is one that consists entirely of intellectual
discovery. He only teaches that which his students are curious about. Here’s the thing; if taught correctly, a young mind will be curious about everything.
Two stand-out students are the genius, Paloma (Jennifer Trejo), and the hoodlum, Nico (Danilo Guardiola). Paloma lives with her father next to a trash heap. Their sole source of income is whatever her father can find in the heap and sell for scrap. Imagine that existence, and then imagine the poorest kid in Dead Poets Society. Got that picture in your mind? Good. Nico doesn’t have family. He lives in an unfurnished shack on the beach. The local gang has recruited him. It is only a matter of time before Nico drops out and becomes a hoodlum for real. Again, think about how that compares to the Dead Poets Society kids. I’m fond of the Robin Williams film, but in retrospect, the subject matter wasn’t nearly as daring as the film wanted you to believe because the student have all been bred to a world of wealth.
Going in, I was bearish on Radical for two reasons: 1) “Based on a true story” 2) Eugenio Derbez. On the first, with few exceptions, filmmakers always seem to believe that real life is more entertaining than fiction. It’s not. Unless you’ve got Miracle on Ice material, you’re going to need some enhancements, and probably a partially-manufactured conclusion of some kind. The truth is rarely as forgiving as our version of the truth. The second, however, in my mind at least, is far more important: Eugenio Derbez is a clown, a fool. This is his role on screen and -until now- I’ve never seen him attempt something else. I had no idea he was capable of genuine humanity. He should really try that more often. His work here as the ever-curious teacher who cares more than he knows is brilliant and a role I’d gladly see again. Fewer people are going to see Radical than should and that’s a shame because this is a wonderful drama and one of my favorite films of 2023.
There once was a Latino prof
Whose methods his peers did scoff
Yet his class was attuned
And young minds ballooned
Even when the dude was cut-off
Rated PG-13, 125 Minutes
Director: Christopher Zalla
Writer: Christopher Zalla, Joshua Davis
Genre: Teaching!
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: People with a healthy respect for non-standard education
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: The kind of people who ban books
