Based on a true story, Radical is a film that gently disarms with humility, then rebuilds with urgency. It tells the story of a Mexican public school teacher who chooses not to give up on his students, despite overwhelming systemic barriers. In a school forgotten by infrastructure and policy alike, he introduces a method that’s unconventional—and deeply human.

This is not a teacher-as-savior story. Instead, it is a portrait of mutual discovery. The classroom becomes a space where students—each with their own burdens—are allowed to imagine and question. The beauty of Radical lies in its restraint: no flashy transformations, no miracles. Just time, trust, and the belief that curiosity can survive even in scarcity.

Eugenio Derbez, in one of his most subdued and moving roles, brings quiet strength to the teacher character. There’s humor and fragility in his performance, grounding the narrative in lived experience rather than idealism. The young actors, particularly Jennifer Trejo, shine with emotional depth and authenticity.

The cinematography leans into naturalism, keeping the focus on faces and small gestures. The film respects the reality of poverty without exploiting it, and elevates the children’s potential without turning them into symbols. In this, Radical feels both tender and quietly political.

At its core, the film is about dignity—not only in teaching, but in learning. And in believing that education should not be measured only by results, but by the freedom it fosters.

There’s an emotional undercurrent that builds slowly, culminating in a final act that refuses sentimentality in favor of truth.
The teacher’s philosophy isn’t romanticized—it’s tested, doubted, and challenged.
But through each small win, we’re reminded that even overlooked places can spark brilliance.
It’s a story grounded in one school, but it resonates far beyond, wherever education has become a forgotten promise.
A quietly stirring call to reimagine what we think students—and teachers—are capable of.