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Radical

2023 2h 5m
Drama
MOVIEVIBE Rating
8.3/10
513 reviews
Your Rating
Radical

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.

"Think for yourself."

Top Billed Cast

Eugenio Derbez
Eugenio Derbez
Sergio
Daniel Haddad
Daniel Haddad
Chucho
Jennifer Trejo
Jennifer Trejo
Paloma
Mia Fernanda Solis
Mia Fernanda Solis
Lupe
Danilo Guardiola Escobar
Danilo Guardiola Escobar
Nico
Gilberto Barraza
Gilberto Barraza
Papa Paloma
Víctor Estrada
Víctor Estrada
Chepe
Manuel Márquez
Manuel Márquez
Enrique

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

C CinemaSerf Verified TMDB Critic
2024-08-15

"Sergio" (Eugenio Derbez) is a new teacher at a primary school in a run-down Mexican town where his unorthodox teaching methods cause a bit of consternation for the head teacher "Chucho" (Daniel Haddad). There's a curriculum that they are supposed to follow and this school is the very worst in the land. To inspire better results, the teachers are offered bonuses if their pupils can improve, so imagine their chagrin when "Sergio" starts upturning tables and using the school's water reservoir to illustrate the relationship between weight and density. Not only must this teacher galvanise his hith...

G Giovanni Verified TMDB Critic
2024-08-15

The most significant revolutions often begin with one individual, eventually leading to a transformation within an entire community. "Radical," inspired by a true story, embodies this journey, enriched by scientific and philosophical insights that bring hope and inspiration to a world that feels bleak and challenging. The film draws parallels to the beloved classic "Dead Poets Society," with Sergio stepping into the role of a modern-day Prof. Keating in a remarkable classroom setting. He dares to challenge conventional teaching methods, offering an alternative approach rooted in curiosity, dia...

B badelf Verified TMDB Critic
2026-04-14

Radical (2023)

Directed by Christopher Zalla

William T. Harris, US Commissioner of Education from 1889 to 1906, said, and believed: "Ninety-nine [students] out of a hundred are automata, careful to walk in prescribed paths, careful to follow the prescribed custom. This is not an accident but the result of substantial education." Sadly, though this attitude may have served the purpose of feeding the industrial revolution with unfettered parents to work in sweatshops, this mode of education is still the de facto standard. We are still teaching children to be automata, to follow instruction...