| Overall: | B+ |
|---|---|
| Violence: | C- |
| Sexual Content: | C |
| Language: | B |
| Drugs/Alcohol: | C |
| Run Time: | 126 |
| Theater Release: | |
| Video Release: | 11 Jan 2011 |
| MPAA Rating: | |
| See Canadian Ratings | |
| How We Determine Our Grades | |
After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.
The issue of learning how to fight using non-violent methods is one of the themes raised in this film. How did debating help these students to value themselves?
This movie is based on a true story, but features a mix of historical and fictional characters (research indicates there was no woman on the initial 1935 team). What are the “tradeoffs” between historical accuracy and dramatic license? Do you think fictionalizing historical events might risk creating “urban legends” or altering people’s perceptions of historical fact? Would sticking to just the facts make for a boring movie?
For more information on the James Farmer and the Wiley College debate team, check these links from AfricanAmericans.com and The United Methodist Church.
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About the Reviewer: Rod Gustafson
Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. He currently serves as the President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness, a provincial non-profit society. He also authors a regular column for The Parent's Television Council in Los Angeles. He and his wife Donna have four children.
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