HALF NELSON 
(2006, USA)
106 minutes
Director: Ryan Fleck
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie

Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) stars as an idealistic but erratic eighth-grade history teacher in a Brooklyn school who befriends13-year-old student Drey (Shareeka Epps) after she finds him smoking crack in the locker room. While Dunne spirals further into drug addiction, he attempts to keep Drey out of trouble, intervening ineffectually into her relationship with a neighborhood drug dealer. Half Nelson offers a powerful rewriting of the “heroic white teacher” story through its unsentimental portrayal of a well-meaning (but wrong-doing) teacher and through its careful attention to Drey’s perspective. The film is distinguished by excellent performances by both Gosling and Epps (Gosling was nominated for an Academy Award for the role), and a soundtrack by Broken Social Scene.

**This film screening counts toward the accredited Film Culture Program, so a short discussion will follow.  All are welcome.