If I could bleep out the curse words, this would be an excellent film to show middle school and high school students, particularly Black and Hispanic male youth. The film is short enough to hold their attention, yet powerful enough to make an impact on their young lives. It would be a perfect classroom teaching unit. I would have an open discussion about self motivation and future goals. Next, we would watch the film without comment. After the film, students would write for the balance of the class room time. I would collect their papers and hold them for the next day. After reading their essays on the film, I would hold another open discussion in which I would allow them to share their views on the message of the film. This film is the perfect length and subject matter for a teaching unit. Other than the profanity, the film has great merit. I understand the profanity is necessary to impart the reality of the adult character whose life has turned out so horribly. However, the language cannot be used in an educational setting. I would like to see a version where the language is not so graphic. It is a perfect teaching tool and should be viewed as such aside from it's artistic merit. Also, the character who played the youth seems more like 16 than 13. I would not change the actor, I would just change his age. I taught middle school and high school for 30 years, and the male youth is this film could never be considered 13. Great job!
