Our take
Going to school can be tough, moreso in a neglected, corrupt and violent town with not much opportunities to improve. But sometimes, once in a while, going to school can be great because of a good teacher. It’s a real teacher that inspired Radical (2023), a Mexican entry to Sundance that year, and while it does follow a familiar template, the crowd pleaser teacher drama is enjoyable to watch, especially with Eugenio Derbez’s charismatic performance as the star teacher. Being based on a true story, the third act might take on a surprising tone shift, but Radical nonetheless is inspiring stuff and understandably won Sundance’s Festival Favorite Award.
The story
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.
Elsewhere
"Almost as improbably as Paloma rises above Matamoros’ sinking conditions through Sergio’s tutelage, Radical rises above its heavy-handed script, loaded with clichés and familiar beats, through the loving attention and dynamism of its veteran filmmakers."
— Megan Feeney
"Those who inspired “Radical” deserved to be celebrated, and it’s likely that a mass-appealing filmic interpretation of their against-the-odds accomplishments might function as the farthest-reaching vehicle to disseminate them."
— Carlos Aguilar
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
