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8.4/10 • 409

2023-10-192h 6m

Drama

Think for yourself.

In a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher tries an unorthodox new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential... and perhaps even their genius.

Directors
Christopher Zalla
Editors
Eugenio Richer

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Eugenio Derbez

    Eugenio Derbez

    Sergio

  2. Daniel Haddad

    Daniel Haddad

    Chucho

  3. Jennifer Trejo

    Jennifer Trejo

    Paloma

  4. Mia Fernanda Solis

    Mia Fernanda Solis

    Lupe

  5. Danilo Guardiola Escobar

    Danilo Guardiola Escobar

    Nico

  6. Gilberto Barraza

    Gilberto Barraza

    Papa Paloma

  7. Víctor Estrada

    Víctor Estrada

    Chepe

  8. Manuel Márquez

    Manuel Márquez

    Enrique

  9. Christian Gonzalez

    Christian Gonzalez

    Jaime

Reviews2

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Aug 15, 2024

7/10

"Sergio" (Eugenio Derbez) is a new teacher at a primary school in a run-down Mexican town where his unorthodox teaching methods cause a bit of consternation for the head teacher "Chucho" (Daniel Haddad). There's a curriculum that they are supposed to follow and this school is the very worst in the land. To inspire better results, the teachers are offered bonuses if their pupils can improve, so imagine their chagrin when "Sergio" starts upturning tables and using the school's water reservoir to illustrate the relationship between weight and density. Not only must this teacher galvanise his hitherto indifferent students, but he has to win over his sceptical boss else he's going to end up out of a job! What now ensues is based on a true story and I think could be doing with being shown in classrooms everywhere. Not just because it clearly demonstrates the sheer power an inspirational teacher has to enable young minds, but also to remind kids in better off communities that education (with our without technology) is a thing to be valued. This man offers them a template to teach themselves; to solve problems and develop teamwork skills and to realise that their options are not quite as limited as might have seemed when they started compulsory schooling with precious little interest in any of it. It also asks questions about the rigid nature of repetitive learning and invites us to consider what is or isn't a teacher's place in a community that is historically constrained by perceptions of realism. Can any of these youngsters really aim high and deliver, or is it all pipe dreams? There's a fun dynamic between Derbez and Haddad and the storyline allows us to observe some of the more salient issues that affect these people growing up - poverty, drugs, corruption and family all playing their own decisive part in influencing how education fits into their society. Two hours just flies by, here, and there's plenty of entertainment mingled in with the more serious food for thought. Well worth two hours, I'd say.

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Status
Released
Original Language
Spanish
Budget
$10,000,000.00
Revenue
$21,761,164.00
Keywords
usa–mexico borderteachers and studentsborder towninspirational