Dangerous Minds

I have to pass this way, to be a teacher for several months of my practice and then decide whether to choose this way or not. And such films can either kill your desire to give the knowledge or just improve in thoughts of higher mission.The film Dangerous Minds" is not as original a title as "My Posse Don't Do Homework," the name of the book on which it is based, but it is probably a more accurate reflection of the film, anyway. It hasn't a shred of originality. The title suggested something like a crime/gangster film to me, and of course the song in the opening sequence is a bit of an odd choice, but it was still a good film. Based on a true story, the story sees ex-marine Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) hired as a teacher at Parkmont High School, for a class of street-wise teens, involved with gangs and drugs. Rap has a bad reputation in white circles, where many people believe it consists of obscene and violent anti-white and anti-female guttural. Some of it does. Most does not. Most white listeners don't care; they hear black voices in a litany of discontent, and tune out.Yet rap plays the same role today as Bob Dylan did in 1960, giving voice to the hopes and angers of a generation, and a lot of rap is powerful writing.The first day Louanne gives up pretty quickly, but by the second she is determined to get through and try to teach them English, i.e. poetry, but she is using very unconventional methods to do so. Even though she is questioned by the head and stuff, it does seem to be working, and the students are beginning to trust and respect her, and get on with the work. It is only when a student is shot and killed that this ends, and overwhelmed with guilt, Louanne wants to quit her job, and the students are insisting she stays, but in the end, she still left. Also starring George Dzundza as Hal Griffith, Courtney B. Vance as George Grandey, Robin Bartlett as Carla Nichols, Bruklin Harris as Callie Roberts, Renoly Santiago as Raul Sanchero, Wade Dominguez as Emilio Ramirez, Beatrice Winde as Mary Benton and Lorraine Toussaint as Irene Roberts. So, I should say, that this film worth watching – it’s not a stone of genius, but good cinema, connected with my today’s issue of problem children.