Walkout (2006 TV Movie) User Reviews

Compelling Historical Drama!

[lavatch · 8/10 · 18 March 2006]

"Walkout" tells the story of the students in Los Angeles high schools in 1968, who stage a boycott of their schools in order to improve the quality of education for Chicanos. The film was skillfully directed by Edward James Olmos, who presents the story in a simple, direct way. There was an especially frank portrayal of the unacceptable educational standards in the schools attended by the young Chicano students.

The focal point of the story is the character Paula Crisostomo, an exceptional student, who risked her graduation to participate in the Lincoln High School walkout. A dedicated high school history teacher, Sal Castro, was instrumental in instilling idealism in his students, which resulted in their united efforts for a peaceful protest.

The film captured the passion of Paula in an emotionally-charged relationship with her parents, who strongly resist, but slowly come to understand, their daughter's activism. The entire cast, especially the young performers playing the students, was convincing as an effective ensemble in this fine film.

"Walkout" is another outstanding HBO project that tackles an important subject and provides an exceptionally high-caliber film. From 1968 to 1969, there was a substantial increase in enrollments of Chicano students in American universities, and this change was due to the consciousness raised by people like Paula Crisostomo and her teacher Sal Castro. In this film, Olmos and a superb cast deliver an important reminder about how a small group of young, passionate individuals have the potential to truly make a difference in their world.

A must see...all you parents and your children together!

[mrod314 · 8/10 · 23 March 2006]

I am 41 years old. I went to Griffith Jr. high and graduated from Montebello HS in 1982. (I barely graduated, got pregnant and married by age 19, typical story of a non-informed, non-motivated Mexican/American youth). My best friend went to Roosevelt HS and my boyfriend (at the time) went to Garfield HS. I am amazed and outraged that I had never heard of this "walk out" until just last night (3/22/06). I just happened to be scrolling through the movies to watch on HBO. I read the description of the movie and was intrigued. Why was this not in the history books? or even spoken to us as students in the community from our teachers, counselors, mentors, etc? It's just another kick in the #@%! This movie should be shown to all students in Jr. High and High school, especially in heavy Chicano communities. As a matter of fact, I am going to sit through it again with my two nieces (8 & 11 years old) and my 21 year old daughter (she graduated "magna cum laude" from La Salle HS, is now graduating next June from Cal Poly Pomona and will be entering Pepperdine University to accomplish her Masters Degree…how proud is this (divorced) mother! ..a "former" non-informed, non-motivated Mexican/American youth).

Yes, the movie itself wasn't the best, the acting was okay, the SUV in the background (…1968)…..But lets look at the bigger picture. The story. The true story and it's meaning. It is such an important part of our history, so profound and full of inspiration.

A History Lesson-

[msblue2005 · 7/10 · 25 September 2006]

These kids not even old enough to VOTE: With Determination-Organization-UNITY were able to make some changes for themselves and future generations. We can learn from that, their parents learned from them. To many people feel what can I do..its best not to make waves...just shut up and do your job. Its really not when there is injustice, prejudice and racism involved.

Movies like this: Empower people to Unite, Organize and have a Voice!!! Under any circumstances or oppressed situation. The timing of its release was right on target-with the Marches, boycotts and Demonstrations going on in this Country at the time in protest Racism!

I recommend parents watch this Movie with their kids. Well made, good acting and a part of History.

Very Well Done Film.

[eusebio-castillo · 7/10 · 14 June 2016]

This was a moving film and which I familiarized,through Latinos in the Pacific Northwest, and purposely finish acquiring a copy. Quite hidden wisdom about Hispanic-Latinos & Chicanos that their new generations should know. Strongly recommended it for all the Hispanic-Latinos and Chicanos.I once had the opportunity to greet Edward James Olmos at Portland State University and gave me a very good impression. Since the mid-eighties that I follow Mr.Olmos and always amazes his great work as an actor and writer who has mostly been to educate new generations of Hispanic-Latinos. I also wish to thank Michael Peña for his great performance and who did not get a chance to meet but we were at a dinner in December,2015.

Inspirational, v1.01

[annevejb · 25 April 2012]

With DVDs and such, the valley of the LA is noticeable and stories relating to it can be rather relevant. Walkout is, to me, extremely relevant.

Modern days, DVDs and Blu-rays are a cultural norm. But recent disks can be very difficult to play on a computer unless one has purchased a full price, recent model, software player. Play on the player that is one's normal choice then the experience might be no go or very uncomfortable indeed. Cross cultural stuff as a problem too. A lot of that seems to come from how the USA and Japan understand good ways and they will not be impressed that I consider Walkout to be relevant in the here and now world. So, it does not point to a solution but it does hint about some qualities that a worthwhile solution might have.

The valley of the LA as a place of extremes. Extreme riches and extreme poverty. Extreme freedom and extreme lack of freedom. Chunks of peace and extreme violence. Lots of ways to get messed up by crime. Lots of ways to get messed up by the law.

East L.A. is somewhere that I had not heard about before getting a Blu-ray of From Prada To Nada. So, my tourist guide of the La suggested that East LA was one of the three areas to stay clear of. From Prada To Nada shows a fascinating district, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico masquerading as the USA, and Walkout shows very different aspects, some of its history. Both talk about a place in the valley of the LA that some can love.

This shows young people in a land that says that their people are free and with a certain equality, yet their day to day experience in their neighbourhood and even at school says other. They try to face that in a way that incidentally says something positive about their country.

Their solution is very 1968. But it is also in harmony with what their country then said that it is about, it is not in harmony with what their country actually was. I find that to be inspirational. I find this to be a story that is helpful for trying to face the modern world. So, these days, what does England say that it believes in? Things have changed since 1968.

On a deeper level, the Mexican Americans faced a particular set of trouble, some still do. This even explains why Miranda Sanchez of Lizzie McGuire does not speak Spanish. But there are other minorities facing different problems and I am assuming that they will share some common allergy reactions to the modern dominant culture. As far as the real value of this story is concerned, this is just looking at the tip of an iceberg. I think of these as cursed individuals and modern times shows some managing to break free from some of their chains. For me, the bad guy is the dominant belief system of today.

Is Paula Crisostomo a Chilipina? Really?

[rangelbabys · 7/10 · 28 March 2006]

...meaning her father is Filipino and her mother is a Chicana? Or is she full-blooded Filipina, because the real Paula looked totally Malay to me?

BTW...There are Filipinos of Mexican(Indios and Meztisos)ancestry so having a Latino looking Filipino father is not so far off...how you say? Nueva Espana(Mexico) governed the Philippines for over 300 years with most of the colonizers from Mexico. Philippines culture has a distinctly Mexican flavor...The Virgen De Guadalupe is the Philippine's Patron Saint... Filipino language is peppered with Nahuatl words...customs and traditions are Mexican/Spanish in origin (Dia De Los Muertos, e.g.)

I give the actor credit with the somewhat Filipino accent ("I'm prum the Peeleepeens")

I enjoyed the movie, even though it was kinda fluffy. It should have been more gritty and blood-spattered(come on, they were hit with batons on the head!)

Over all, it was a stirring movie that made me want to go out protest something!

I strongly recommend watching this film with your kids.

[lopezjl11 · 9/10 · 22 March 2006]

I was totally unaware of all that had happened with the Chicano movement. I was shocked to find out that Universities kept Chicanos out. Sometimes you take things for granted and think that is the way it has always been. As a Chicana, it made me realize all the sacrifices that have been made on my behalf. For this reason, I think as Chicanos we should strive to be successful and go to college. We should also instill in our children a sense of pride in being Chicano. I think that even today there are Hispanics that are ashamed of their culture and raise their kids not knowing how to speak Spanish when their last name is Martinez. The Hispanic population in the U.S. has grown dramatically and for this reason more than ever we need to have a sense of identity about who we are and be proud of it. I really liked this movie and encourage Latino families to sit down and watch it with their kids.

Good acting, good directing, good scenery, but...

[Beercelo · 6/10 · 19 March 2006]

...there is a little feature after the movie is over in which all the real-life characters talk about what it was like back then to try to get a good education against the odds. The viewer also learns what careers they ended up with. Since they were all clamoring for a good education, it was a bit surprising to learn that none of them became doctors, lawyers, scientists, professors, engineers, pharmacists, or any other career that requires a good education like the education they so longed for. Instead they all became activists, artists, social workers, and school board members. Was it necessary to "walkout" just to end up an "artist?" Does one need to stage a walkout and cause a big scene just to be an activist or an artist?

Fantastic Movie: Moving

[ourfosterhome · 9/10 · 8 April 2006]

I was amazed that I never knew about this movement, I was in high school/ jr high in the late 80's - early 90's and this should have been a topic with in our US History text. We covered a small portion of the civil rights movement, a large amount with in the 1800's and nothing from the LA walkouts? My children and all children need to know about the strength people have had to make change, it's inspiring. Often people assume that only people hundreds of years ago made the sacrifices and changes, this was not that long ago and shows that people are able to accomplish anything together. I hope our children are as conscientious, caring and strong to stand up for what they believe is making a difference in the quality of the life in the world we share.

A Tale of Two Epocas

[ajhidel · 6/10 · 6 April 2006]

I have seen this movie 3times on HBO and once with the producer and his daughter taking questions. In between there have been school walkouts in LA County to protest inflammatory legislation in Congress that though it would never pass would have made felons out of the undocumented. Whereas in 1968 protests were for the right to know about La Raza, and have better educational opportunities, in 2006 the walkouts were chaotic and counterproductive. If only the students of today with their cell-phones, IPods, and video games had one-tenth of the educational focus of the leaders of the "Walkout" of 1968! The historical accuracy of the film suffers from what appears to a "composite" of efforts to suppress Spanish by corporal punishment of earlier generations. In trying to get your message across it does not help to exaggerate history. Nevertheless, the actual walkouts of that time accomplished a lot for Chicanos or Latinos. One has to ask the youth of today, as I have, "To what extent can you blame institutional racism or cultural insensitivity, and totally exempt the individual student of personal responsibility, to echanr ganas para estudiar y seguir adelante? Where do the failures of the system end and self-victimization begin?

Dying yourself orange does not make you a Chicana.

[mirillustration · 2/10 · 15 October 2013]

The writing and dialogue is terrible, and the casting is worse. Alexa Vega (who plays Paula) is half Columbian and half white. English is her first language. They gave her one of those orange fake tans in a sorry attempt to make her look more Hispanic... which is VERY perturbing in a movie that is supposed to be a historical account of racism against Hispanic. I mean really, you couldn't find ONE Mexican actress in LA??

The perpetuation of Hispanic stereotypes is nauseating, not to mention insulting, and the movie plays out in a way that makes it look like the only thing the Hispanic community in LA does is sit around talking about being "chicano."

This is a great movie for several reasons.....

[mike_dee102 · 10/10 · 18 March 2006]

First of all, this is the first movie ever about the Chicano civil rights movement. And as many Latinos know, the Chicano civil rights movement created some better opportunity for our people.

The cast is almost entirely Chicano, which is amazing within itself, seeing that Latinos only make up 2% of Hollywood. It gives us a chance to play Characters, and not only the "Brown person".

A piece of history is being told, which has been totally written out of History by the mainstream media & educational institutions. All of the police beating scenes in this movie were re-creations of archived material from TV Stations, which were not allowed to broadcast in 1968.

The protagonist is a young woman who is half Filipina & Mexicana. This is great because revolutionary leaders are usually only seen as tough men. This also shows that oppression crosses all color lines, the issues come down to a class struggle, and this can be a catapult for different ethnicities working together on common issues.

I feel that we should embrace this movie, and create others also, with stories of our peoples struggle. There are several movies about the Jewish struggle, the African American movement for equal rights, women's rights, but this is so far, the only one speaking of the Chicano civil rights struggle.

Once again, just making them is not enough

[tvelasco-2 · 2/10 · 27 March 2006]

History has a funny way of always surface when needed. If this movie is your only reference of the events that depicts...well you need to hit the books! I've seen "After SChool" specials with more concern for story telling than this movie. Too much time and effort is spent in the art direction and the story suffers. The script is forced, the delivery light and none of the characters seem committed to make anything credible as if their ethnicity was enough to sell the drama. It's a waste of the big publicity machine of HBO, dedicated to this film, may be it looks good on their resume, but they backed the wrong Latino flick.

Having been born in 1968...

[rkarenc · 10/10 · 21 March 2006]

Having been born in the year 1968, I was very inspired by the movie "Walkout" This movie really touched me. I am a Chicana born and raised in Orange County CA. My parents were also born in the O.C.Even though this protest was in 1968. Some racism still exists today. I hope more people watch this movie.( I noticed it is "ON DEMAND" on HBO)Edward James Olmos has my uttermost admiration and respect for taking the time,research,energy and dedication to make this movie. When I watched the movie "Walkout", When they cheered, I cheered. When they clapped,I clapped. When they cried, I cried. When Chicanos won that day, We ALL won!!! Viva La Raza!! Karen in Santa Ana CA.

tell me more

[sakman67 · 10/10 · 18 March 2006]

I liked the movie that I just saw. this movie makes me wonder why I did not or have not ever heard about this part of L.A's history. I grow up in L.A county and did not read this story or learn about this story from my school or from any of my friends/neighbors. Thank you for making a movie that it seems everyone else will not. It is called history for a reason. PLease make more of this movies so that I as well as others might be able to understand more about the true history of Los Angelos.I wish that people would fill more comfortable talking about the hardships that people had to go through. please make more movies that show our history.Thank you for the history

Neither Negative or Positive

[VonDark · 4 April 2006]

Not growing up in the 60's (actually being born in 77), I don't have too much of an idea of what happened during these times with the exception of what my parents had told me while growing up. It was interesting to see a lot of it played out on screen.

Growing up in L.A. in the time that I did though and watching this movie showed me that not much has changed. I went to schools in three distinctive area. I attended in private schools, Inner city schools and in nice suburban areas and can tell you there is a significant difference in teaching styles. It is too bad that such a movement did not change that. May I add that I do not believe it is the teachers fault, it has to do with the funds that each area receives.

I feel that some of the people commenting on film have seen it or are commenting on it with a certain "bad vibe" mindset to begin with. I have seen people comment saying it was only Mexican-American or Chicano's leaving the schools, wanting to ditch or etc. That no one else was part of the Walkouts. Which leads me to the following questions; 1. If you were not part of the walkouts (I am assuming this because you say only Mexican-Americans were part of the walkouts) how do you know exactly who attended? 2. How can you tell who is Central American, South American, Mexican? It has been said that the media was not allowed to air certain footage with that being the case, please don't tell me that you got this information through the media.

People on this forum have also stated that the walkouts were a waste of time that because things are the same there was no just cause for them. Would you say the same of the Anti-War Protests of then and now? I mean, we still have wars.

Though in your mind, maybe these walkouts meant nothing or the causes have not changed anything now, they changed thing's then. For those people and to those people it mattered. You may say, "No one that they interviewed became a Lawyer or Doctor, etc. so what were they fighting for?", They were fighting for the education to allow them to advance in whatever path they chose.

I see people put this film down because it is not the way they recalled it and that no one should glamorize this because it was a chance for gang youth to ditch school. Again, if you weren't there how do you know who attended? Every protest and every following has a few bad apples that ruin it for all, it's human nature. Does human nature make their actions acceptable? No, but it is there. (Let's remember the people who bombed SUV dealerships, as I recall they consider themselves Environmentalist and I have seen them only point out White Americans in these cases).

Let us see this film as an educational film. Something to show us a part of history through someone else's eyes. Not butcher the film because of it's message, lighting, acting, writing, etc.

At one point in my life I had someone tell me that she felt sorry for my generation. That I lived in a time where my generation had as many things to deal with, in different forms, as her generation of the 60's and we did not protest. We would just sit around and wait for the problems to resolve themselves. (BTW she was white not Hispanic or of Hispanic descent) If you disagree with the film, that is your opinion and accepted as we are in (technically) the land of the free. You have free speech, use it. Who know's you may direct, write or star in the next best film representing your ideas and how you see the world at hand.

Final words, Watch Rashômon by Akira Kurosawa. It is a film used in Law Schools (the ones where I have attended) to show different points of view.

Remember there are always 4 stories to tell, Your Story, Their Story, The Witness Story and the Truth.

Waste of Precious Latino Resources

[Jerky_Jones · 1/10 · 20 March 2006]

I was hoping, for the sake of the talent, crew, and Chicano people, that this film would be good. I was also hoping to be inspired by this movie. No such luck:

The writing was poor to mediocre, in spite of at least four credited writers. The plot moved slowly, the characters were stereotypical and uninteresting, and either the actors or director (or both) left me unfulfilled. The monologues (and there were many) were preachy and uninspiring. The editing was poor, and the musical direction even worse.

Both major trade reviews (Variety and Reporter) mention the nepotism behind this movie as an obvious shortcoming, so I'm not the only one talking about it. This poorly-made movie belies its own purported intentions in so many ways.

Walkout also reinforces the false notion that Latinos cannot be expected to make good films. Latinos—and, more importantly non-Latinos who hold important wallets—continue to have low expectations of what Latinos are willing and able to accomplish when given multi-million dollar budgets, and access to a mainstream audience such as the viewers of HBO.

Even though Walkout is a lackluster effort reflecting the intentions of those who made it, it is Latinos as a whole who ultimately pay the real price. Because it's not like HBO is handing out multi-picture deals to other Latinos at the moment.

powerful call to action

[bengleson · 10/10 · 18 March 2006]

As I write this, students in France are opposing a terrible government initiative to rob them of their equal rights to employment. In my current elderly comfort, I occasionally forget that government and officials of all stripes can easily fall into the role of oppressor. The Chicano of East L.A. in the late sixties woke up from their sad lethargy. This film portrays the reason and the calm that they displayed in recognizing the unfairness of the masters of education, the evil abuse of authority by the police, the beaten down acceptance by some in the older generation.

This film will serve as an example of the level of civic responsibility that we are sometimes called on to display. Bravo.

Great Subject, Snooze-Worthy Execution

[questl-18592 · 5/10 · 29 October 2021]

Gonna knock out the bad first. This was a by the numbers historical dramatization without a shred of suspense or, sadly, much real poignancy behind it. Characters felt flat and one dimensional. All around it just felt like a made for TV thing rather than a proper film and that hurt it.

Now for the good. This movie tackles a subject I didn't know existed. I had no idea about the plight of the chicano community in the public school systems at the time, or at any time really. So for bringing that to my attention? Points. Lot of points actually because I think we need more awareness to these issues that get swept under the rug. I also loved the way, it's mostly Pena's character but the whole movie highlight this idea that if it's not in the news, it didn't happen. That is a terrifying truth of the world that we're all being forced to look at more and more. Out of sight, out of mind cannot be good enough and I love that this movie hit that point.

Overall, this is a pretty mediocre film about a pretty important subject. I want this to be better, I wish it had gotten some buzz or something going so I wasn't just knowing of it's existence now, 15 years after it came out. That said, you may be served just as well by simply looking up racial injustices in 1968 schools. The movie doesn't do enough with the subject matter, but it's definitely worth knowing.

wonderful

[gahbay · 10/10 · 23 March 2006]

i loved this movie it gave me real inspiration and hope for our future as indigenous people of this land.. remember there was no border before.. i am Native American but we are the same in my eyes... we share a lot of the same struggles and also strengths.. much love and respect for the activists and actors acting there parts... especially Efren Ramirez, Micheal Pena, and Alexa Vega. i loved the part when her dad was telling her that the reason that people don't want to fight chicanos is because they don't give up.. that was so cool.. i am not afraid to stick up for what i believe.. and i believe the same bout native people.. we never give up... AIM (American Indian Movement) look at their success.. peace i'm out

Powerful movie

[hola_latina_chica · 10/10 · 3 April 2006]

I was very moved by this film, it was well done, the music fit, the cast was perfect, the story was quite easy to follow, and my kids ages, 11, 7, and 6 have watched this movie at least 7 or 8 times. Each time they watch it we have a discussion. They understand that what happened in 1968 was a life changing experience for Chicanos everywhere. They stood up for their rights in a positive, honest, peaceful way, and for legitimate reasons. They understand with the walkouts that are happening in today's society are more for getting out of school and not for rights at school. My 11-year-old daughter asks why the kids at school are using this movie and saying that it has inspired them to walkout when the issues are completely different. And when kids are asked why they are walking out they really don't know. Back in 1968 all the kids new why they were walking out and were educating themselves. My 6 and 7 year old both have said that they hope that the walkouts happening now don't get kids hurt like in the movie.

I appreciate HBO showing Chicano history and hope that there are more movies to inspire and educate myself and my children of our chicano heritage. Thank you Moctezuma Esparza, and all the people involved in this movie. THANK YOU and my God Bless you.

High School students protest corporal punishment, locked bathrooms, racism, and more.

[spacenurse · 9/10 · 19 March 2006]

This excellent entertaining movie is important. It shows that people who seem powerless can succeed IF they are working for justice. Unity and organization with a PLAN to improve their schools in a non violent way may sound theoretical. "Walk Out" showed the real humans behind it. Their relationships with each other, parents, teachers, and the community are made real to anyone who has attended school.

The police brutality of 1968 was dramatized so realistically. Misleading news reports played into the generation gap we felt then.

It LOOKED like 1968. From the clothing, hair styles, automobiles, and especially the teachers wearing short sleeve white shirts with a tie. Kudos to costuming!

This needs to be seen in theaters and sold as a DVD.

I believe This movie is right

[btalex1990 · 10/10 · 22 December 2006]

This movie is right. When something isn't right we need to protest. We have every right to protest. Just because some policeman don't like it doesn't mean we should stay quiet and get tortured/beaten/raped. I think a Walkout is the best way. Alexa Vega thank you for staring in such a good film. You have brought a vision back to America. Anytime we believe something is immoral, or wrong we should stand up and protest. I give this movie a 10/10. It made me think that we don't just fight, We fight for a cause. An inspiring film. I believe this film should get a Grammy Award and a Nobel Piece Prize. The best film I ever saw. It wasn't about cowboys shooting, not about Cops and robbers, It's about Our rights and how we should be treated. We should be treated with love not hate.

I give it 10/10

[deathix · 10/10 · 4 December 2007]

We watched this in my US History class. It was perfect for the time frame of which we are learning - The civil rights movement.

It's a great story about Mexican Americans willing to stand up for what they believe is right. At the time the movie was taken place, people of different colors than white were not treated equally. They couldn't even speak Spanish in their classes, else face punishment.

This also really showed how some adult Mexican Americans felt about the situation. They were very uneasy about it because they were afraid for their children.

I think this is a great movie that all should watch. Learn a bit about our history without the history books!

i was really impressed

[smallvillefreak · 10/10 · 14 December 2006]

I was really impressed with the movie.. It gave me so much knowledge and information about my chicano ancestors that was very inspirational. I was born in 76 and i noticed some things have changed in the school system but not everything.. there is always room for improvement in the schools... I was very moved and inspired by the movie.. I cheered and cried when they cried and cheered.. I am glad they were brave and strong enough for all latinos to take a stand. I am very proud of my Asian, Anglo and Black friends and family for taking a stand with us when we needed them the most.. They are some of the best people then and now... I appreciated the knowledge of the horrible police brutality to our teens.. How funny how that was not the case a couple months ago here in los angeles with the L.A county High schools.. Boy, how times have changed..