Monsieur Lazare (2011)

This is an amazing film.  It touches on the impact of suicide on pupils of a teacher and also on fallout of specious accusations of child abuse.  It is a memorable movie.
From NY Times review.
"“Monsieur Lazhar” sustains an exquisite balance between grown-up and child’s-eye views of education, teacher-student relations and peer-group interactions. The students come quirkily alive in superb naturalistic performances devoid of cuteness and stereotyping. Like no other film about middle school life that I can recall “Monsieur Lazhar” conveys the intensity and the fragility of these classroom bonds and the mutual trust they require." 2011  94 minutes

Witch Hunt (2008)

This is an important, moving and maddening documentary. It shows what can go wrong in a legal system that chooses to ignore the truth and seeks only convictions. Sadly, this happens all across America and the rest of the world. Nachman and Hardy have done a masterful job. While parts are hard to watch since the miscarriage of justice was so egregious, we all need to view Witch Hunt.

From Web Site: Executive Producer Sean Penn proudly narrates the gripping indictment of the United States justice system told through the lens of one small town. It's John Stoll's story, but it's also the story of dozens of other men and women who found themselves ensnared in a spiral of fear, ignorance and hysteria. These people are Americans, working class moms and dads, who were rounded up with little or no evidence, charged and convicted of almost unimaginable crimes. All sexual. All crimes against children. Years, sometimes decades later, they would find freedom again, but their lives and the lives of their children would be changed forever. This film shows viewers what the real crime in this case is, not molestation, but the crime of coercion. Viewers hear from the child witnesses who were forced to lie on the witness stand as they describe scary sessions with sheriff's deputies in which they were told -- not asked -- about sexual experiences that happened to them. Their coerced testimony led to dozens of convictions. Many times their own parents were the ones they put behind bars. 2008 91 minutes

Producers and Protagonist
Dana Nachman -- John Stoll --Don Hardy

Freedom Writers (2007)

From NetFlix: "Hilary Swank stars as a young teacher who inspires her at-risk students in this moving drama based on true events. Erin Gruwell (Swank) assigns her class an ambitious project: While studying works such as The Diary of Anne Frank, the kids keep journals about their troubled lives, applying history's lessons to break the cycle of violence and despair that threatens their futures. Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey co-star." 2007 122 minutes Trailer

This is an inspirational movie that covers some of the same ground as Precious. It is probably easier on the audience. Until Precious is released, I won't say more. However, Freedom Writers is well worth viewing. DJE

Precious (2009)

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo'Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

Official Site and Trailer

Precious is based on the book Pushed, by Sapphire. It's a fine, harrowing read. Available in print and audio-cassette (latter read by the author)

5/17/09: This movie is not released yet but promises to be a big hit. It tackles important issues. The toll of child abuse is terrible in that it stymies a child and creates physically and mentally handicapped individuals. The happy ending mentioned above may be the exception to the rule.

11/6/09: Precious was released to great media hype. A.O. Scott's review in the Times is worth reading.

12/20/09 Precious is playing locally and I saw it tonight. I was surprised how closely it adhered to the book. This is an extraordinary film and a very important one. It's a must see, in my opinion. Probably the best movie I've seen in 2009. It did not pander to the marketplace. Raises many uncomfortable questions. It is not just "entertainment" but opens up a discussion about child sexual abuse.

The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

From NetFlix: This unflinching drama charts several years in the young lives of four "fallen women" who were rejected by their families and abandoned to the mercy of the Catholic Church in 1960s Ireland. While women's liberation sweeps the globe, these women are stripped of their liberty and dignity and condemned to indefinite servitude in The Magdalene Laundries, so that they may atone for their "sins." 2002, 120 minutes

Powerful and memorable.