To be completely honest, I bought a ticket to see Freedom Writers solely for the purpose of watching Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy) on the big screen for two hours. I left the theatre that night, however, disappointed by Dempsey's minor character's selfish demeanor, and I was completely blown away by the terrifying, yet inspirational, story line of the movie.

Freedom Writers is based on The Freedom Writers Diary, published in 1999, and tells the story of first-time English teacher Erin Gruwell, played by Hilary Swank (The Black Dahlia), and her class of gang-warring high school freshmen in Long Beach, Calif.

The young teacher and daughter of an ex-activist tries to use her idealistic goals to stop racism in her classroom of whites, blacks, Asians and Latinos who were forcibly integrated into one public school system. The students feel as though they are being "babysat" during the school day until they either drop out or are kicked out.

Swank's character has trouble trying to control her unruly, unmannered and abusive classroom until she tries to connect her students' violent, neglected lives to Hitler's treatment of Jews during the Holocaust.

Swank's students open her eyes to the daily lives they lead and their feelings of accomplishment when they arrive home at night alive.

Swank provides each of her students a composition book and they are instructed to write daily entries about their painful lives. She tells them "everyone has their own story to tell."

The students are later assigned to read the novel Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and compare her heart-wrenching diary to that of their own.

Swank also tries to bring her class together through activities in which they realize the similarities they have in music, movies, difficult family problems and community surroundings, despite ethnic differences.

Each of her students completely changes their attitudes and begins making choices to better their lives.

Swank's students become her family when her husband, father and co-workers disapprove of her teaching strategies.

This is a must-see movie for all ages to enjoy.

Grade: A