21/03/24 – 19:30 The Venue
Mexico 2023
Dir: Christopher Zalla
Cert 12A
126 mins
Starring: Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Haddad, Jennifer Trejo
In a Mexican border town, rife with poverty, corruption and violence, a new teacher starts work at the elementary school, itself starved of funds and lacking facilities. Sergio, full of enthusiasm for his unconventional teaching methods, hopes to break through the apathy of his underprivileged pupils (aged 11/12) and encourage creativity and a real interest in learning, thereby unlocking their potential. Thus “Radical” follows the well-trodden path of the “inspirational teacher film”, a sub-genre much beloved of Hollywood. And true to form, the present film offers plenty of clichés, but there are also genuinely endearing and funny moments in the interaction between children and teacher. “Radical” is based on a true story and the real Sergio did indeed make a difference, particularly in the case of the girl on whom the character of Paloma is based. Finally, Eugenio Derbez’s lively performance is hard to resist and the film has proved to be a crowd-pleaser worldwide.
Trailer:
