There have been many remarkable movies about inspirational teachers over the years. From Stand and Deliver to Dangerous Minds tp ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Poets Society, these films are filled with real emotion and showcase the profound impact a compᴀssionate teacher can have on shaping the lives of their students. The 2023 Spanish-language film Radical is one of the best films in this genre. Based on the true story of Sergio Juárez Correa, the movie follows a visionary teacher who revitalizes an elementary school in a struggling border town in Mexico.

Eugenio Derbez, the charming and hilarious Mexican actor known for Coda and Instructions Not Included, delivers one of his best performances as Sergio Correa, an educator disillusioned with the dull, government-mandated curriculum focused on memorization and standardized testing. Determined to inspire his 6th-grade class, Correa abandons traditional methods of teaching and focuses on creative techniques and critical thinking exercises to unlock his students’ untapped potential.

The True Story Behind The Film Radical

Radical Is Based On An Article From Wired

Radical is based on the 2013 Wired article by Joshua Davis, тιтled “A Radical Way of Unleashing a Generation of Geniuses”. The film provides an accurate portrayal of the true story, focusing on Sergio Juarez Correa and his groundbreaking teaching methods.

When Correa first arrived at José Urbina López Elementary in Matamoros, Mexico, he encountered an underfunded school with minimal resources and students living in fear of the cartel violence ravaging their community. Correa made the bold decision to abandon the rigid Mexican educational system and instead adopted a self-driven learning approach, allowing students to learn about things they are pᴀssionate about.

He encouraged his students to ask questions and think critically, and focused on lessons that embraced creativity. Most importantly, Correa instilled the kids with confidence and helped them believe in themselves. Davis highlighted this powerful transformation with great eloquence in the article by saying –

There were kids in other parts of the world who could memorize pi to hundreds of decimal points. They could write symphonies and build robots and airplanes. Most people wouldn’t think that the students at José Urbina López could do those kinds of things. Kids just across the border in Brownsville, Texas, had laptops, high-speed Internet, and tutoring, while in Matamoros the students had intermittent electricity, few computers, limited Internet, and sometimes not enough to eat.

“But you do have one thing that makes you the equal of any kid in the world,” Juárez Correa said. “Potential.”

Similar to how it plays out in the film, Correa’s approach had tremendous results and the kids’ standardized tests went up significantly. Many students in the class got scores in the 99.99th percentile.

Sergio Juarez Correa Based His Teaching Methods On Sugata Mitra’s Principals

The Education Theorist Helped Inspire Sergio Juarez Correa And His Students

When Sergio Juarez Correa began teaching at José Urbina López Elementary, he started to research many different teaching philosophies. He was familiar with the work of educational theorist Sugata Mitra but had never applied Mitra’s theories in practice. Mitra’s defining principle was: “The children are completely in charge.” This philosophy, with roots dating back to Socrates, emphasizes that students should explore topics that genuinely interest them.

One of Mitra’s best-known innovations was called “Hole-in-the-Wall” experiments, where children in underserved communities learned through collaboration and self-discovery, often outperforming their peers in traditional classroom settings. Over time, Mitra’s theories have gradually gained traction in various sectors of education and other industries. Today, it is widely recognized that allowing students to pursue their interests encourages their desire to learn.

Correa adapted these principles to his classroom, often starting the day by positioning the students’ desks in small groups and asking them directly “What would you like to learn today?” Since the students did not have easy access to the internet, Correa would write down their questions and research the answers at home if he didn’t know them. He also used physical objects from around the school to create hands-on learning experiences, ensuring that his teaching remained engaging and practical.

Paloma Is Based On A Real Life Person

She Thrived Under Sergio Juarez Correa’s Teaching Methods And Was Called A Genius In The Media

In the film Radical, Paloma is portrayed as Sergio Juárez Correa’s brightest student. Her character is inspired by Paloma Noyola Bueno, a 12-year-old girl from Matamoros, Mexico, who lived near the town’s garbage dump. Despite her family’s awareness of her intelligence, they lacked the resources to nurture her education. Her father’s deteriorating health further diverted attention away from her academic potential. However, when Correa became her teacher, he unlocked her abilities, and she thrived under his innovative teaching methods.

Correa quickly noticed Paloma’s exceptional talent during his experiments. She consistently provided correct answers, even to the most challenging questions he believed would stump her. Her critical thinking skills were unparalleled, making her a standout student unlike any he had encountered before.

Tragically, Paloma’s father pᴀssed away during this time (a detail omitted from the film). Remarkably, she returned to school just days later, determined not to miss her lessons. At the end of the school year, Paloma achieved the highest math score in the entire country. This accomplishment earned her national recognition, including a trip to Mexico City and lavish gifts to celebrate her remarkable achievement.

Radical Takes Some Liberties With The Real-Life Story

Nico And Lupe Are Composite Characters And The Movie Simplifies Correa’s Teaching Methods

While Radical closely follows Joshua Davis’ Wired article, it does take creative liberties for dramatic effect. The most notable invention are the other students in the class, particularly Nico and Lupe. The article primarily focuses on Paloma and her journey to national recognition for her exceptional test scores. In contrast, the film emphasizes the collective achievements of the class, framing it as a group effort rather than the story of a single student.

Although Nico is a composite character, he symbolizes the challenges many students at José Urbina López Elementary faced, including exposure to drugs and violence in their community. While the threat of cartel violence is grounded in truth, it is amplified in the film to heighten tension.

The movie also simplifies and streamlines Correa’s teaching methods. In reality, Correa spent months refining his approach, using trial and error to achieve the best outcomes. Radical further suggests that Correa faced personal struggles and had strong motivations to help his students, but these aspects are not deeply explored in the article. These embellishments are typical of Hollywood adaptations and do not diminish the story’s power or the extraordinary achievements of the real-life individuals.