Won't Back Down

Inspired by a true story, Jamie Fitzpatrick (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a single mom trying to raise her young daughter, Malia, in a small residential area of Pennsylvania. Malia and her mother, as we learn, have a disability, dyslexia, which makes reading and writing a very difficult task. Jamie has increasingly noticed Malia struggling in academics at her school, Adams Elementary, “a failing school,” and notices that her teacher doesn’t seem to care that she is struggling. Jamie realizes the need to get her daughter out of that particular classroom and moved to another class, however she is told by the principal that it isn’t possible.

Meanwhile, another mother and teacher from Adams Elementary, Nona Alberts (played by {Raw}Viola Davis), has begun to notice that her son is learning at a slower rate than the other students in class and begins to realize, through talking with Jamie, that the school may very well be failing her son in helping him become successful in his studies. Jamie and Nona decide that a change is in order for Adams Elementary. They discover the Parents Trigger Law (passed originally in California and then to many other states in 2010) that allows the parents, if they feel that the public school is failing, to “create a petition to overrule the administrators of that failing public school which can also lead to the release of current staff and convert that public school into a charter school.” Will the two moms be successful in changing Adams Elementary, or will all their hard work be in vain?

I can see how this movie can be considered controversial. Some have called this movie an “anti-union movie.” I, for one, disagree with the negative comments. The two moms, Jamie and Nona, are fighting not just for their children’s education, which is the primary drive behind the movement and this film, but for other students who were at a disadvantage at Adams Elementary, as well. They are fighting for a better education that, as Jamie says in the movie, she never received (in Jamie’s case she says that it was because of her dyslexia). That’s the message behind this movie. If we truly wish to fight for something, something as vital as our children’s education, then we can’t be afraid to take a stand and fight. These moms believe in what they are fighting for, and though the head of the Pennsylvania teacher’s union tries to play dirty at times, the two moms still keep fighting with honesty in their hearts and in their words.

Having said that, I know, from personal experience, what it is like to have to struggle with academics. I think most of us have struggled in that, at one point, in our schooling. How students are educated plays such an important part in their overall development into adulthood. Children don’t care about the politics behind schools. They simply wish to learn. At one point, Jamie reminds everyone, during the hearing, that is why they started the petition in the first place, not to fight the union, but rather to fight for the children’s right to a good education. That is the message that I drew from this movie.

Cinematically speaking, I was very pleased with this film. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis steal the show in their performances. I was impressed with how well they worked together. Even the supporting characters, such as Malia (though she says very little), give excellent performances. The story is good, with enough substance to keep me interested for two hours. I felt drawn in by this film’s message of commitment and perseverance. There is little to no music in this film, and the camera work is fine.

Objectionable Material

“Won’t Back Down” is rated PG for “thematic elements and language.” I won’t lie. It’s a pretty powerful film, hence the need for the thematic elements label attached to the rating. However, there is some objectionable material in this film that is worth mention.

Violence: Mild. There are a couple scenes of mild violence. In one instance, some children tease Malia and rip her backpack. Nona’s son is shown, as well, with blood on his shirt when he comes home at the beginning of the film.

Language: Moderate. In terms of actual cursing, there are two instances of “a**,” one instance of “bas**rds,” and one instance of “d**n.” God’s name is used in vain three times, as well as the term “jeez.” Other crudity includes Jamie being called a “stupid cow,” Jamie mentioning luck being a “foxy lady,” one teacher being known as the “Sexy Texy,” the terms “retarded,” “jerks,” “scumbags,” “s*cks,” and “scr*w” are also used.

Sex/Nudity: Mild. The movie limits this content to a couple scenes of kissing between Jamie and the music teacher at Adams Elementary.

Other Content: There are three scenes of alcohol use, one at a restaurant between adults, and two at a bar that Jamie works at.

As I have stated before, the main lesson that I drew from this film is a positive message of courage and never being afraid to stand up for what is right. Jamie and Nona never give up in their fight for a better education (even at the expense of Nona being put on academic suspension from Adams Elementary). In the same way, we are to fight for Jesus, even though many may refuse us and laugh at us, even persecute us. In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:10), Jesus states:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (New International Version).

“Won’t Back Down” is a powerful film and one that I am pleased to recommend, to teens and adults (children will probably not understand the politics behind this movie and the language may also be enough to discourage parents from bringing their children). It’s not often I commend the writers behind a film, and for that I say, “Thank you.” Thank you for giving us a movie that will inspire us to fight for what needs fighting for. Thank you for doing this while making it a fairly family-friendly film at the same time. I look forward to what other inspirational and well made films Twentieth Century Fox will make in the future…

Violence: Mild / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Mild

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