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Radical

  • 2023
  • PG-13
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Eugenio Derbez in Radical (2023)
In a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher (Eugenio Derbez) tries a radical new method to unleash the curiosity and potential of his students ... and maybe even their genius.
Play trailer2:38
3 Videos
12 Photos
Coming-of-AgeDocudramaDrama

A teacher in a Mexican border town full of neglect, corruption, and violence, tries a radical new method to unlock their students' curiosity, potential - and maybe even their genius.A teacher in a Mexican border town full of neglect, corruption, and violence, tries a radical new method to unlock their students' curiosity, potential - and maybe even their genius.A teacher in a Mexican border town full of neglect, corruption, and violence, tries a radical new method to unlock their students' curiosity, potential - and maybe even their genius.

  • Director
    • Christopher Zalla
  • Writers
    • Christopher Zalla
    • Joshua Davis
  • Stars
    • Eugenio Derbez
    • Daniel Haddad
    • Jennifer Trejo
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Christopher Zalla
    • Writers
      • Christopher Zalla
      • Joshua Davis
    • Stars
      • Eugenio Derbez
      • Daniel Haddad
      • Jennifer Trejo
    • 38User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 18 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:38
    Official Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 2:08
    Teaser Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 2:08
    Teaser Trailer
    Why Eugenio Derbez Followed in His Mother's Footsteps
    Clip 3:27
    Why Eugenio Derbez Followed in His Mother's Footsteps

    Photos11

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    Top cast53

    Edit
    Eugenio Derbez
    Eugenio Derbez
    • Sergio
    Daniel Haddad
    Daniel Haddad
    • Chucho
    Jennifer Trejo
    • Paloma
    Mia Fernanda Solis
    • Lupe
    Danilo Guardiola
    • Nico
    • (as Danilo Guardiola Escobar)
    Gilberto Barraza
    Gilberto Barraza
    • Papa Paloma
    Victor Estrada
    • Chepe
    Manuel Márquez
    • Enrique
    Christian González
    • Jaime
    Xochiquetzal Martínez
    • Maria
    Edmundo Moñoz
    • Beto
    Enoc Leaño
    Enoc Leaño
    • Administrador
    Manuel Cruz Vivas
    • Nacho
    Erwin Veytia
    Erwin Veytia
    • Sr. Garcia
    Allison Pérez Bernal
    • Amiga Maria 1
    Andrea Nicole
    • Amiga Maria 2
    Kaarlo Isaac
    • Niño Playera México
    Franco Ortega
    • Hermano de Lupe
    • Director
      • Christopher Zalla
    • Writers
      • Christopher Zalla
      • Joshua Davis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews38

    7.87K
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    Featured reviews

    8MehdiTaba

    One of my top 10 films of 2023!

    Such a great film. One of my top 10 films of 2023!

    This is a film that reminds us how much useless and inefficient our educational system is, especially in undeveloped countries like Mexico.

    But it's not the whole picture that this film is trying to paint. It's about kids' future, progress, human conditions, poverty, neglect, corruption, different approaches to modern education, and many more very important issues that every one of us must try not to overlook.

    Christopher Zalla did a very good job on this film.

    Christopher Zalla wrote this screenplay based on the 2013 Wired article, "A Radical Way of Unleashing a Generation of Geniuses" by Joshua Davis. And this story is based on a real story.

    To me the real weak point of this film was its cinematography, additional to that, there were some scenes and plot points that weren't excellently well done and cooked.

    Our rusty educational system needs a sheer update that it may can be seen as "Radical" to some reactionary and traditional people. And it's the reason that they named the film as such.

    Such films can help building a better future, a robust, sustainable and progressive future.

    Eugenio Derbez put a lot of himself on this film, I suppose he had a firm belief in the film's message.

    It also ends with a powerful quote from Albert Einstein which sums the whole story up, stunningly.

    7.7/10.
    10nickpopovsky-54440

    If I could give an Oscar, this movie would receive one for sure.

    This movie does a great job in showing the differences between the method of being schooled and the negative consequences it causes when you are compelled to learn what somebody else thinks you should learn, know, study, etc.

    On the other hand, there is the opposite method, which is, of course, not perfect and has its flaws in its own regard, along with many unforeseeable problems it could cause.

    It's 2024, and this old method seems to prevail in most parts of the world and in most schools, unfortunately. This results in feeling dead inside in the end and not caring about anything because it sucks out the joy of learning with a constant bombardment of information and what the school program thinks you should know.

    Regardless of how I look at it, there needs to be serious reforms on a global scale, with minds far smarter than mine; we already have new scientific discoveries that can help us with this process.

    As I said, it's a major problem and it's a worldwide one. I believe education is one of the most important tenets of a healthy world, up there with mental and physical health.

    Inquiring into matters that we are interested in, asking and seeking answers to questions that come to us, sometimes with the aid of a teacher, charts an individual spin on education, makes it more interesting, and honors the mystery of this life in which we live.
    9babyjaguar

    Radical: A True Portraiture of Borderland Youth and Education

    Zalla's beautiful-photographed film, of borderlands looking at improverised youth and their education. Eugenio Derbez helms the role as a possible mentor and educator, Sergio Juarez Correa. He's a role model to students struggling economically and dealing with criminality, based on true events.

    It's a slow narrative, but developing much of its characterizations within the on-screen relationship between educator (Derbez) and youth. Derbez shines within this film without any comedic antics, showing the struggle of education.

    Particular Mexican young actors shine alongside his acting, playing the students overcoming adversary. One student, Paloma helemd by Jennifer Trejo shows much passion toward math and science.

    All these events are based on a true event for youth achieving the highest national testing, Paloma was celebrated as the Mexican student to has the highest score in the country back in 2011-12!
    9TheMexFilm

    I didn't want to see it and I ended up watching it in its entirety.

    At first I had no intention of seeing this movie, first of all because Derbez was coming out and I had honestly seen a trailer where he showed that he was still making bad movies. But when I started watching the movie as such, I fell in love completely and especially with the role of Derbez, who personally is brilliant and once again shows that he is made for great things.

    As many of us know, the country is in bad times and being politically correct, I think that this is being seen everywhere, but it is these stories that give hope back to the country and make us see that everything can improve if we motivate that change and that This is the case of Radical, a film that is out of the ordinary and promises a lot for national cinema.

    It is a film that from the beginning draws your attention, for some reason you watch the film and understand the objective of the director and the actors, which is to teach you to see life from different perspectives and, as many times, we can do with little. Much more than we expect. The ending is too good and I think you should see it in person and frankly the only bad or criticizable thing is that some scenes go on for too long, apart from that I highly recommend this film project.
    10bretonfilms

    Touching, inspiring, refreshing

    RADICAL is one of the best movies of the year. It's incredibly touching and inspiring, with moments of comedy throughout. Eugenio Derbez is at his very best in this dramatic role. The cast is absolutely delightful and refreshing to watch, and it really makes you think about your own experience in the education system. It makes you reflect, it makes you grateful, and it really makes you want to make a bigger change in the world. This movie is incredibly Oscar-worthy, I can't stress that enough. It's so brilliant and well done. It's heart-wrenching and moving. This movie really sticks with you in the long run.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The actress that plays Marlene the librarian is the real life Paloma Noyola on which the character is based off.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Amanda the Jedi Show: I Watched 45 Movies in 1 Week | 'Talk to Me' and the Best Movies of Sundance 2023 Explained (2023)

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    FAQ

    • How long is Radical?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 3, 2023 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Radykalna metoda
    • Production companies
      • 3Pas Studios
      • EPIC Magazine
      • Pantelion Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,702,731
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,658,047
      • Nov 5, 2023
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,797,119
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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