Stand and Deliver (1988)
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A determined mathematics teacher inspires a group of underprivileged students to conquer the challenges of Advanced Placement Calculus.
The story
In the early 1980s, Jaime Escalante becomes a mathematics teacher at James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. The students, coming from working-class families, have academic achievement far below their grade level. When students begin to challenge his authority, Escalante uses humor and practical methods to engage them. Despite pushback from other faculty who believe the students are unprepared for advanced coursework, Escalante insists on teaching them calculus to improve the school's culture. He challenges the students to rise to the level expected of them, establishing a rigorous program that requires them to work extra hours and prepare for the Advanced Placement exam.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the early 1980s, Jaime Escalante becomes a mathematics teacher at James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. He faces a classroom of students from working-class families whose academic achievement is far below their grade level. Escalante employs a philosophy of 'ganas' and uses humor to engage them. Despite the skepticism of his colleagues, he pushes the students to take Advanced Placement Calculus, requiring them to attend extra sessions and work through prerequisites. During the lead-up to the exam, Escalante suffers a medical emergency but continues to teach. After the exam, all 18 students pass. However, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) questions the results. Escalante faces a crisis when his car is stolen and he receives a letter of resignation, but his students surprise him by fixing his car. He meets with ETS investigators and offers a retake. All students pass the retake, and Escalante successfully demands that the original scores be reinstated. The film concludes by noting that in the summer of 1982, the entire class passed, and the program became even more successful in subsequent years.
- First release year
- 1988
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ramón Menéndez
- Writers
- Ramón Menéndez · writer; Tom Musca · writer
- Cast and characters
- Edward James Olmos · Jaime Escalante; Estelle Harris · Estelle, the School Secretary; Virginia Paris · Raquel Ortega; Will Gotay · Francisco "Pancho" Garcia; Ingrid Oliu · Guadalupe "Lupe" Escobar; Carmen Argenziano · Jesse Molina; Rosanna DeSoto · Fabiola Escalante; Vanessa Marquez · Ana Delgado; Lou Diamond Phillips · Angel Guzman; Karla Montana · Claudia Camejo; Lydia Nicole · Rafaela Fuentes; James Victor · Ana's Father
- Genres
- comedy-drama; biographical; drama
- Themes
- education; determination; overcoming adversity; cultural identity
- Tone and mood
- inspirational; underdog drama
- Premise and plot tags
- based on true story; biographical; educational; underdog
- Source material / true-story basis
- True story of Jaime Escalante
- Reception
- The film received largely positive reviews, being described as a 'gutty little underdog film' and an 'inspiring story' that 'pays rousing tribute to a real-life inspirational figure.'
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 89% · review count: 63; Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 11
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actor · 1988 · Nomination; Independent Spirit Award · Best Feature · 1988 · Win; Independent Spirit Award · Best Supporting Male · 1988 · Win
- Production trivia
- The title was inspired by a 1987 song by Mr. Mister.; The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.; The film was originally titled 'Walking on Water'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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