Who will the sixth grade students at Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary in Matamoros become? They are among the worst performing students in Mexico, the world they know is one of violence and hardship, and their classrooms are dominated by an atmosphere of overbearing discipline, not possibility. It might seem like a dead end… but it is also the perfect place for new teacher Sergio Juarez to try something different. There’s just one problem: Sergio (played by an amazing Eugenio Derbez) has no idea what he’s doing.
Christopher Zalla returned to Sundance (Padre Nuestro, U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize 2007) with this honest, playful, powerfully inspiring story about a teacher who takes a radical approach with overlooked, apathetic kids to trigger their curiosity and discover the joy of learning…to let kids—who live in a world where they can't be kids—become kids again. Based on true events, Radical shines a light on the incredible potential children can manifest when an innovative teacher empowers them to think for themselves.
Winner of the 2023 Sundance Festival Favorite Award.