Maybe it’s just a quirk of the zeitgeist, but this season’s movies include a bumper crop of education and teacher features. Here’s a selection:
The Heart of the Game
Inspirational sports stories are common enough, but this documentary is the real thing. Darnellia Russell, an African American girl on the mostly white Roosevelt High School girls’ basketball team in Seattle, steals the spotlight with her impressive ball-handling skills and captivating story. The movie is showing at selected theaters.
Learn more at www.heartofthegame-film.com.
Half Nelson
This independent film tells the story of a Brooklyn public school teacher fighting to keep his students out of trouble and off the streets while struggling with his own drug addiction. A nationwide release is set for August 11.
Learn more at www.thinkfilmcompany.com.
Class Act
Highlighting the decline of arts education in America, this documentary focuses on Jay W. Jensen, a longtime Miami drama teacher who became known as the “teacher to the stars” because of his now-famous pupils such as Andy Garcia. It’s currently touring film festivals around the country.
Learn more at www.classactthemovie.com.
When Fried Eggs Fly
This documentary follows Bruce Mack, a public school teacher in New York, as he helps 162 elementary students learn how to work together on an original song. DVDs of the film, which has shown at select theaters, will be available via www.whenfriedeggsfly.com.
