MRAC Cinema Club presents Radical

Followed by refreshments Film release date: 2023 Film language: Spanish

This film is a comedy/drama based on a true story and is directed by Christopher Zalla. It stars Eugenio Derbez and was the festival favourite at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. It picked up a number of other awards at festivals in Mexico and Spain as well as the Grand Jury Fiction Award at the 2024 Movies that Matter Festival in The Hague. The hero is a teacher in a neglected Mexican border town full of corruption and violence. He decides to try a radical new way to reach his apathetic students at his run down school and help them achieve their full potential, with great results although there are setbacks along the way.

The critics all commented that the film highlights the importance of dedicated innovative teachers, especially in schools where students have little hope. Reviews were generally favourable, though some took issue with the formulaic style and predictability.