All language subtitles for Radical (2023)Radical (2023)Radical (2023)

Get out of here!
Scram! C'mon!

Shut her up!

What are you looking at?!
I want you in front! Move it, Chepe!

I'm coming.
- Three... Two... One...

Let's go!

Out in front, Chepe!

RADICAL

MATAMOROS, MEXICO, 2011

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Shoes on, now.

I'm not telling you again.
- I'm coming! - Hurry up, everyone.

What are you doing?

Chepe?

Chepe!

Two besos, two chocolate
conchas,

and two ojos de buey.
How many is that?

A dozen. Today is a big day,
why not make it two dozen?

Yeah, right?

Can I?
Hurry, come on.

Good morning my loves.

Everyone had a good breakfast?

Everyone except for Papa.
He only took coffee.

Straight home after
school, right? - Yes.

Where were you?
- Hop on.

Better you get off here.

Chepe, do I have to go?
- What did we agree?

Just for a few days.

Right, after that no one will
come poking around.

And then I can
work with you, no?

We'll see, Nico.

Morning, Director.
- Good morning.

Stay close to the others.

Look, toys!
- Hey, get back here.

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS!

Silence!

Silence, please.

Silence is the foundation
of obedience.

Obedience is the foundation
of discipline,

and discipline is the
foundation of learning.

So, let's review
our rules, shall we?

Yeah!

Good morning. I brought
enough for everyone.

I'm glad to see that everyone...
- Uh... mr. Juaez?

Well, that almost
everyone is here.

As you know, Mrs. Alvarez
gave birth to a baby boy,

and two days ago decided to
become a full-time mother.

Fortunately, we found Mr. Juarez,
he's from here in Matamoros,

and he kindly took the
job at the last-minute.

He's got a pulse, he's hired.

There's not much I can say you
don't already know, so I'll be brief.

Although primary education
is mandatory and free,

over half of our sixth graders
are dropping out. We are failing.

According to our ENLACE test
scores we are the very worst.

I'm sure you're all
aware of this by now,

this year they approved
an incentive bonus

for those who meet
certain score thresholds.

If that can motivate us to do
our jobs just a little bit better.

Let's not forget our kids, okay?

So... let's have a
good year, shall we?

Do you smell that?
Smells like something.

It smells like... trash.

Hurry up!
Quickly now!

We don't have much time!
- What happened to the desks?

Those aren't desks.
- Why are they upside down?

They're lifeboats!

And that's not the floor...
It's the ocean!

Each boat can only hold the
same number of passengers.

Those who don't get
into a boat will drown.

But be careful...

If any boat has more passengers
than the others it will sink

and everyone on
board will drown.

There's 23 of us here
and only 6 boats,

so, figure it out.
Ready? Let's go!

Five... four...
Get in! Three... two....!

One!
Come on!

Don't worry! I'll save you!

Help!

Help me! Please!
Someone help me!

Help... me...

Now 8 boats!

What the hell is going on here?!

There's one last passenger!
Save him!

Five, four, three, two!

No, he's too fat! We won't
float! - He'll sink the boat!

Wait wait...
why would he sink it?

Here's an interesting question.

What makes a boat float?

Or what determines how
much weight a boat can hold?

Anyone know?

No one?

Do you know?

No... I don't know either.

Yeah I don't know either.

Where do we find answers
to things we don't know?

How about the Internet?!

I believe there's a
computer lab? - Yes.

It's out of service
at the moment. - Okay.

Where else can
we find answers?

We ask the teacher.

We tried that but as you've
seen, we don't know very much.

How about books?
Is the library in service?

To the library! Let's go!

Where's the library?

Come on, let's go!

May I help you? - Yes
please... Mrs. Florita.

We don't have any class
visits scheduled today.

You don't have anything
scheduled for today.

Procedure requires notifying the
library at least one day in advance,

with desired reference
materials identified in advance.

Yeah, yeah, but we'll be quick.
Where are the encyclopedias?

They're here in back, but...
- Come on! This way. - Hey!

No running, please.

1974.

What did we come for? Boats,
barcos... Oh, man. There's no 'B'.

There's no 'B'. Where
else can we look?

How about 'F', for flotation?

You know what?

We don't need the encyclopedia.

You can figure this
out on your own.

Tell me.

Why do...

Why do things float?

Anyone?

Somebody. Just take a guess.

It doesn't matter
if you're wrong,

What matters is that you try.

In fact, I'd prefer
you get it wrong.

Yeah, because when
we make mistakes

we learn what we did wrong...
and that can help us learn what's right.

But, how will we
get good grades?

What do grades matter?
- We need good grades to graduate,

and so that our parents
don't get mad at us.

That's all?
Fine, that's easy.

As of now, you all get a 10.

Ok? At the end of the year,
when you get your report cards,

you're all going to
find there: your 10!

I promise.

Really. Got it?

Now we can get back
to the important stuff.

Who wants to be wrong first?

Come on, who?

No one?

Have you ever had a
class like that before?

I've never had a
teacher like that.

What were we supposed to
learn? - About boats, obviously.

Do you think?

Walk with us, Romeo?
- What?

Don't worry, I can
keep a secret.

No, it's just that...

Have you noticed that Paloma
seems different this year?

Um, it's called puberty.

Heavy, no? Could be real silver.

You can replace the mirror.

Besides, I'm keeping it.

What do you want for it?

Do you think he meant it?

Why would he lie
about something like that?

Remember what he said?
He wants us to make mistakes.

If we don't have to be right,
it's okay if we're wrong,

and if it's okay to be wrong,
we can't get a bad grade.

I've never had a 10 before.

Papa, your nose.

It's nothing.
Come help me unload.

Ok.

Fifteen minutes of cartoons
while I make lunch,

and then it's homework time.

Aren't you working the night
shift, mama?

What are you doing up?

PREGNANCY TEST

Nico!

The pretty boy.

First day of school,
how did it go, man?

Well, last year, they suspended
him on the first day, right?

It's not for him man,
just like his brother.

Can't sit still,
always on the go.

That's my Carlitos.

Staring out the window,
doodling, getting in fights...

Anything but paying
attention, am I right?

But it's ok, Nico. You
got us to take care of you.

You wanna learn from books...

or do you wann
learn from "la vida"?

This is the real school
right here, no?

We better get going.
- Word.

Let him carry it.

Mr. Juarez.

I missed you this morning
at the faculty meeting.

Yeah, I was... uh...

I had a lot of rearranging
to do in my classroom.

Yeah, I saw.

You have something
against furniture?

No... just... some.

Like your desk, for instance.

It's just I don't think
I need a desk.

You have to have a desk.
Every teacher has to have one.

Is there some rule written that
says I have to have a desk?

It's not the kind of
rule that's written,

but how will the students
know who's in charge?

Who's the authority?

Tell me...

You turn your classroom into
a playground, what's next?

Turn the playground
into a classroom?

What's your story, professor?
- What do you mean?

This place, you know
what they call it?

"School of Punishment."
- Exactly. - Yeah.

Your name was the first
on the transfer list.

The only name, in fact.
You asked to come here.

Why?
- Well...

Maybe I'm crazy?

You're running from something.

No, I just wanted to try
something different.

Like what?
- I don't know.

I'm still trying to
figure that out.

Well, perhaps this is
the place to do it.

After all, no one gives a
damn what happens here.

Just do me a favor, don't
go kicking any hornets' nests.

No... why would I...

No.

The desk... stays inside.

Help me push it back?

C'mon...

Hey...

So... What's up with
the computer lab?

They were installed
four years ago,

and two months later
they were stolen.

That was four years ago?
- Mhhm.

There are no other
computers here?

The only one that
works is in my office.

Welcome to Escuela Primaria
Jose Urbina Lopez, Mr. Juarez..

The Mega Yachts of
THE RICH AND FAMOUS

What was that?

What's this?

I found it on the dump.

You should've left it there.

What use do we have
for such fantasies?

Come in, come in.

Sit wherever you like, there
are no assigned seats here.

In fact, you don't even need
to sit if you don't want to.

Hurry, come in!

We're going to do amazing
things in here every day.

but if you come
late, you'll miss it.

Have you heard the story of
the burro that fell into the well?

No?

Then let me tell you...

One day, a burro
fell into a deep well.

Miraculously, it wasn't hurt,
but it couldn't get out.

The farmer who owned the donkey

figured that rescuing it
would be very expensive,

certainly more than
the burro was worth.

And since the well was dry and
a danger to his other animals,

he decided h
should bury them both:

The burro and the well.

So, he began to shovel
dirt into the well.

The dirt fell on the
burro, who cried out,

But the farmer
kept on shoveling.

After a while,
the burro fell silent.

The farmer assumed
the animal was dead,

but he had to fill the well
so no one else would fall in.

So, he kept shoveling.

Imagine his surprise
when he suddenly saw

the tips of two ears
sticking out of the well.

He shoveled faster and faster,

as the burro's head slowly
emerged, shaking off the dirt.

Instead of letting
itself get buried,

the burro used all the dirt that
was thrown on it to step up and up

until the mound of
dirt was high enough

that it could jump
right out of the well.

From now, we are going
to be like that burro.

No matter how much
dirt gets thrown at us,

no matter how much
shit rains down,

we are not going
to let it bury us.

We're going to shake it off,
and we're going to use it

to become the very best
students in the world.

There is one thing that can
stop you though if you let it.

It's you.

Now, I understand
why you might not

when there are kids
your age in the world

who can solve formulas
in advanced calculus

or write symphonies,
or even build robots.

How could the students at Jose
Urbina ever do those kinds of things,

if we don't have
computers, the Internet,

sometimes we don't
even have electricity.

But, you know what?

We don't need any
of that. None of it.

What you need, what
each of you needs,

you already have.

And it's called... potential.

It's up to you whether you
use it or not. I can't make you.

Neither can your parents.

It's your responsibility to
decide if you want to use it,

and how you want to use it.

So let's do this:

From now on, I'm not going
to decide what we learn;

YOU will. All right?

So now, tell me:

What do you want to learn?

It can be anything,
anything at all.

What do you want to learn?

Oh, nothing.

No one? Nothing?
Perfect. Easy for me, then.

We'll just sit here then...
and learn about nothing.

And if you want to,
we can do this all year.

What was that?
Who was it?

No one?

On the count of three, I want
everyone to raise their pen.

One, two, three!

Come here.

Yes, you in the back.

Me?
- Yes, you. Come.

What's your name?
- Nico.

I also used to be
the class clown, Nico.

I was always punished.

I'll give you a piece of advice:

Don't ever change.

Yes?

No need to raise your hand.
What's your name?

Donovan.
- Yes, Donovan?

I'd like to keep learning
about boats and ships.

Good, anyone think more
about our boats from yesterday?

I realized that sometimes
people are going to die

and there's nothing
we can do about it.

And that's life.

Whoa, heavy. "There's
nothing we can do."

So, we should just let them die?

Yes?
- My name is Lupe.

You don't have to
raise your hand.

I don't agree that there's
nothing we can do about it.

I think you need to
do as much as you can.

You need to do as much as you
can for as many as you can.

Very good, very good.

You just said the same thing

as one of the world's
greatest philosophers.

His name is John Stuart Mill.

Maybe you could be
a philosopher.

What's a "philosopher"?

It's someone who studies philosophy.

Which is a way to explore,

or talk about life's deepest,
most complicated questions,

which can be very
hard to understand.

and that helps us figure
out right from wrong.

But I still want to know why
a boat floats. - Oh, right.

Have you thought about why the boat
would sink if the director got on?

'Cause he's a fat ass.
- Good job!

You didn't raise
your hand, well done!

Very good, thanks.

Tell me, Nico, why would the
boat sink because he's fat?

Maybe because he's too heavy?

Did you know a fat person
floats in water better

than a muscular person
that weighs the same?

No?

Can anyone tell me
why that might happen?

It's a tough one, but
I know you can do it.

Think about it.
Think, think, think.

Who wants to take a
guess? Or, how about this?

Why if I blow up a balloon,

it falls through the air,
but floats on water?

Remember a fat
person floats better

than a muscular person
who weighs the same.

Why?

Because they have
different sizes?

Ah, so then it's the size.
Maybe.

What if I take a bowling ball that
is the same size as my balloon,

and drop them both on water?

The bowling ball would
sink, it's heavier.

And the balloon would float.
- But, how?

If they're the same size?

So, is it the size,
or the weight?

I'll give you a clue.

It has to do with
the way fractions work.

That's precisely what we were
going to talk about today.

Fractions, division, and
remainders.

Alright let's see...

Remember the boat game?

Tell me, what
were the remainders.

Think about it.

The passengers who didn't
fit in the boat? - Exactly!

The passengers who couldn't
fit in the boat and drowned.

Well done!
Wow.

You're so smart that, honestly, I don't
think that you even need me here.

So... I'm going
to go get a drink...

and be back in 30 minutes.

I bet by the time I get back
you'll have all the answers.

Anyone want anything? No?

I'll be right back.

Muscle is heavier than fat.
- How do you know that?

My mom works at a butcher shop.

A kilo of meat looks like this,
and a kilo of fat like this.

Maybe there's air in the fat
and that's why it floats.

So if they weigh the same,
the fat guy should be bigger.

But what does it
have to do with size,

if a big balloon floats on
water, but a pebble will sink.

Because it has air in it.
- Yes,

but I I'm sure a giant balloon
would weigh more than a pebble.

So that's it then, a
fat person floats better

because they have
more air inside.

Like Director Chucho.

You must be the new guy.
I'm Arturo... Mr. Garcia.

Hello, I'm Sergio.

Is everything okay, Sergio?

Uh, yeah, I think so.

The kids are getting
the best of you.

That's one way to put it.

You can't let them
see your weaknesses.

The key is to discipline
them from the beginning.

They have to know
who has the authority.

Hmm, I think maybe it
should be exactly the opposite.

Well, good luck with that.

Thanks.

You know the most powerful
words a teacher can say?

I don't know.
- Ah, you do!

Shouldn't you be
teaching right now?

Better I let them learn.

Mr. Juarez, everything all right?

Sergio, just call me Sergio.

Shouldn't you be in your
class right now, mr. Juarez?

Yeah, yeah. - So?
- The kids are good.

Don't worry, in fact
they may be too good.

This is the school's
only computer? - Yes.

May I use it for a minute?
- What? Now?

Yeah, it's just that
these kids are incredible.

I can barely keep up with them.

I would've thought that a
former middle school teacher

would be qualified to
teach sixth graders.

Yeah... me, too.

It's just that they're...
moving so fast.

Do you mind if I just...?
Come on, only for a sec...

Enough, Mr. Juarez!
Let's go let's go.

Three minutes. Out.

I'm sorry, Director.
Daniel won't stop crying.

What's wrong, little one?
Do you like clowns?

Look! A clown's nose.

What are you laughing at?
What's your name?

Hey, come back! Wait!

So, what did we learn?
Have we figured out the problem?

FLOTATION = WEIGHT / SIZE

We think that if a fat man and
a muscular guy weigh the same,

then the fat man
would be bigger,

because muscle is heavier than
fat. - Exactly! Well done!

What? What's wrong?

We were sure that if two
things are the same size,

then the lighter
would float better.

Ha! You're both right!

How can that be?

It's called an inversely
proportional relationship,

and you figured out
both parts of it.

What we were calling
'flotation',

is the concept of density.

Where density equals
mass over volume.

Mass is another word for weight,
and volume is another word for size.

As the mass increases,
we get higher density,

Got it?

In Spanish, please!

Mr. Director, won't you join
us? - What are you doing?!

Isn't it cool? - I mean,
why are you out here?

It was your idea, remember?

Turn the playground
into a classroom.

You're supposed to be
teaching natural science.

Your lesson plan today, if I am not
mistaken, should be on the Solar System.

That was the plan, but right now
they're more interested in physics.

Physics?
- Yeah.

As far as I know, there's nothing
about physics on the ENLACE test.

The ENLACE, sir. Come on.

Teaching to that test isn't
going to help these kids.

What does it really
even measure?

Teachers.

Did you ever think of that?

Come here.

What have you learned about
physics today? - Um... not much.

I mean I understand the
'reverse relationship' of density...

Inversely proportional.
- Yeah, that.

Inversely proportional...
between mass and volume

and how that changes density...

But how those huge metal ships
are able to float... I just don't know.

But neither did you.

Well, uhm, that's a tough one.

It's difficult.
- I see...

So, who is more dense, then?

You, or the Director?

Uh, I'm sure that...

the Director is far,
far less dense than I am.

You like to push it, huh?
- No, not at all.

Although he has a lot more
mass and much more volume,

To know who is more or less dense,
we would have to measure ourselves.

How could we do that?

If mass is weight,
couldn't we just weigh you?

Yes, we could. But
what about volume?

Yes, we could. But what about
volume? - Long by wide by high.

Length by width by
height, but very good.

That works for a
regular object, like a cube.

What about an irregular
object, like a person?

What's the Director's
width? Is it this... or this?

Think about it.
You're soooo close.

C'mon you've got this.

You have the answer
right in front of you!

Oh, Paloma. One second.

I saw your notebook.
You know all the answers,

Why didn't you share
them with your classmates?

Look, you have real ability
and... - Aerospace engineer?

Pardon?

You told Lupe she
could be a philosopher.

Do you think I could be
an aerospace engineer?

You want to design spaceships?

Well, several astronauts were
first aerospace engineers.

Whoa...
Astronaut.

Okay.

I guess we have our
work cut out for us.

Paloma...

If you could try to share a little
bit more with your classmates,

there's a lot we
could learn from you.

Do you think you can try?

Why are we going
the wrong way?

Can I help you?
- Um...

Do you have any
books about philosophy?

Philosophy?
- Or philosophers?

Philosophers?

Maybe John Stuart Mill?
- Who?

John Stuart...
- Those are college subjects,

I don't know why you'd have any
need to read stuff like that at your age?

Okay, well, thanks.

Is that what you wanted?

Watcha got there?

Did you know you can burn
things with that using sunlight?

I did. - Yeah, who
doesn't, right?

What a couple! The
nerd and the hoodlum.

Go to hell.

Afternoon, Director.
- Good afternoon, Mr. Garcia.

This new guy, Mr. Juarez...

What do you know about him?
- Well... I checked his evaluations,

his references, the usual.

Is that all?
- Yeah.

That's interesting,

because...

I made a few calls...

Where were you?
I was worried.

I guess I've been
moving slower today.

What was that for?
- I don't know.

I had a good day.

Come on.

It floats!

Ok, you won.

But why do you think it floats?

Mr. Juarez, I hope you
don't mind. - Not at all, come in.

Please, come in.

How are you?
This way. - I'm fine.

Look, before this goes any further,

I need to know exactly
what you're up to.

So, I guess it isn't true that
"no one gives a damn.�

It's my responsibility
to look out for my kids.

"My kids..."

Listen.

I called your old school.

They told me about an
"incident" you had there.

I had an episode in
front of the students.

A kind of existential
crisis, let's say.

I'm fine.

What else do you want
to know? - Nothing, nothing.

I'm only trying to understand
what it is you're trying to do here.

I mean, what's your method?

No, no...

I don't have a method exactly.

I don't understand.
- Hey, can I offer you a beer?

No, I was just... - Please, I'm
inviting you in to my home.

Honey? We have a guest.

Good afternoon.
- Hello.

This is my wife, Laura.
He's my boss.

Oh, I thought I was the boss.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Chucho.

And this is our little surprise.

He can be a bit impertinent.
- Yeah, I've noticed.

I'm going to put the baby down.
Make yourself at home.

Thank you.
- Excuse me.

You asked why I came here.

"Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary School
receives... grant for a computer lab."

That's dated eight months ago.

It says the funds were
already disbursed.

They were disbursed all right,
but they never got to us.

You know how it goes.
- Yeah.

"They'll be there tomorrow,
no need to press."

In Matamoros you don't press more
if you know what's good for you.

Of course, yeah, sure.

Why the obsession?

We grew up without computer
labs and we turned out fine.

You have one of those
phones that go online?

Yeah, why?

Can I borrow it? I want
to show you something.

By the way,

there's a girl in my class,
Paloma Noyola.

What do you know about her?
- Not much. Quiet...

Could apply herself more.

That's it?
- Yeah, why?

This is the last of it.
- Let's see...

18 kilos of iron
at 55 cents per kilo,

3 kilos of aluminum,
at 11 pesos per kilo,

4 kilos of bronze at 2.75,

and 3 kilos of copper
at 26 pesos.

The total comes to 105 pesos.

Let's go.
- He shorted you.

What's that?
- Papa, he's cheating you.

Excuse me? I think
you counted wrong.

It should be 131.9 pesos.

Rounded up, 132 pesos.

Would you check
again? - Of course...

Look at that... you're right.
It's 131.90 pesos.

Sorry. Must've hit
the wrong key.

Nico!

What happened?!
- You didn't come to Nacho's.

I'm sorry, I just... - Where's
your backpack? - It's inside.

You need to think, Nico!

It's okay.

I'll be fine.
- You sure?

What are you doing?

Ever since I can remember, this
thing has been here, rotting

Think you can fix it?

Maybe.

I've been learning
about flotation at school.

Flotation? Really?

How will you get
it to float? - Well...

First, I have to keep
the water out of it.

Duh, obviously!
- No, what I meant is...

I need to seal all the holes
because if water gets in...

What?

Maybe... maybe that's it.

Even though it's not
sealed like a balloon,

it uses the air in
this space, somehow,

so that it makes the boat
less dense than the water!

Yeah! That could be it!

Look at you...
getting all scientific!

What is it?

Do you think I could stay in
school, at least for a little longer?

Jeez, I don't know, man.

Let me talk to Nacho, okay?
- All right.

Children learn to do

What do you want
to learn how to do

It's not about making
Let learning happen

It's about letting it happen.

The teacher puts the
Process underway

Take a step back
and admire the result.

You're trying to tell me your
entire approach is based on

some... YouTube video?

Yeah, pretty much.

So you said to hell
with the curriculum?

Yeah, pretty much.

We'll get it all covered
eventually, but,

When they want to,
when it's their idea.

Although, after what I saw today,
I'm not even sure they need me.

If they had computers,

they'd learn everything
by themselves.

Oh my god.

Here.

Did you ever teach?

It's a requirement
to become a Director.

So then you remember why you
decided to become a teacher, no?

That was a long time ago.

What was the name
of that teacher?

Mrs. Carmona.

Mine was Mr. Chavez.

Profe Juan Antonio Chavez.

He told me I could change
the world, and I believed him.

I remember how I gave him a hug up
there, in front of everyone, at my graduation.

When I started teaching my kids
would come up to hug me, too.

But over time, each year
there were fewer and fewer,

until last year, not one.

Kids have changed-
- No.

Kids will always be kids.

The world has changed,
Mr. Juarez. - Yes, but we haven't.

Nothing in education has
changed in the last 100 years.

Nothing. From the school
bell to the uniforms.

"Be quiet! Stand in line!
Raise your hand!"

We're training these kids
to be cogs in a machine

whose only purpose is to keep
running for its own sake.

And if it chews them up
and spits them out,

But these kids are so
much smarter than that.

They know full well the
machine is obsolete.

So they tune out,
they drift away...

and we lose them.

You asked me why I came here.

I don't want to
lose any more kids.

Not one more.

Aren't you a little old
to be such an idealist?

I'm a little too old to
be a new Dad again.

Okay, mr. Juarez...
- Sergio, just Sergio.

Call me Sergio.

Okay, Sergio.

I'm going to give
you a chance...

just don't piss it away, eh?

Oh, actually...

Can I ask you for
one more tiny favor?

It's ready, get in.

Mom, time to get up.

What's going on?
Come on, help me out here.

Good evening.

Breakfast is on the table,
coffee's ready. - Thank you.

All right, in you go.

No! What are you doing!? You
didn't take off your underwear.

Hey...

Get out, get out!

Uhh, get back in...

How much?

Seven centimeters.
- Yeah!

Next. Next!

Wait, I changed my mind!

Ok, I'm here.

"Tiny favor."

It's for the kids, remember?
- For the kids.

For the kids... This is for the
kids!

For the kids!

For the kids!

I'm going, I'm going.

Ten Centimeters.
- Ten centimeters!

Sergio is more dense!

Sergio is more dense!

We can build a water
heater, or an oven...

I have an idea!
Check this out.

We're going to win!
- Hell, yeah!

Hi, there. Can I help you?

Do you have any books
about philosophy? - Of course.

Are you interested in
any area in particular?

Metaphysics? Ontology?
Epistemology?

Morality? Logic? Aesthetics?

Marlene, can you give me a hand?

Here you go.

This never happens!
- Give it a whack.

Sorry.

Over here.

None of that is usable.
Take all you want.

Careful, not to cut
yourself. Good luck.

We believe gravity is
that which makes us fall,

but it only seems
like we're falling.

When we're actually
being pulled towards Earth,

because its mass is so
enormous compared to ours.

It's the same reason
why the sun pulls the Earth.

Then, if the sun is pulling the
Earth how come we don't just

crash into the sun?

Because the orbit is the exact
spot where a planet is caught

between falling towards
something and falling away from it.

So, the entire universe,
all of us, all the time,

are actually just falling
through space?

Yeah, something like that.
- Cool!

Hey watch where you
point that. - Sorry!

Okay, so...

Everyone knows that a
magnifying glass can burn things.

This is unfocused light
reflected onto my hand.

But what happens if we focus it?

Tada!

I hope you enjoyed
our Solar Death Ray!

If you think that was cool,
You'll like this even more...

Watch what it does to this
bottle of gasoline! - No, no!

Rotation!

Come on, everyone!
Let me see you rotating!

URAN

PLUTON

JUPITER

Rotation!
Now revolution!

JOSE URBINA ELEMENTARY RECEIVES
GRANT FOR COMPUTER LAB

Why so early, Nico?

Everything ok?

All right, tell me.

You said we could ask
you anything, right? - Yup.

And there is no question that's too
weird or that we shouldn't ask, right?

That's right.

Okay, so... here's
my question. - Shoot.

How do I get a girl to like me?

See!
- No, no!

It's a very good question.

A very important
question, in fact.

I'm serious, but...

like all big questions,
there's no one answer.

Dammit.

Because there's not
only one kind of girl.

What kind of girl
are we talking about?

That's the thing.

She's just so smart,
and I'm so dumb... - Hey, hey.

None of that.

Every time I try to impress her,
I end up saying something stupid.

Well there's your problem!
- What?

You're trying to impress her,
show her how great you are.

That works with
some women, but...

You're not interested in
just any girl, are you?

There you go.
With a girl like that,

you gotta show her
how great she is, not you.

Support her, encourage her...

Because she is going places.

Especially someone like Paloma.

How...? - Eh, it
was pretty obvious.

Look.

I was going to
give this to her,

but I think maybe you should.

Tell her "look what I found
and it made me think of you."

How come you
know all this stuff?

Remember when I said
we learn from our mistakes?

I've made a lot of them.

Take care of it now,
you don't want to lose it. - No!

Sorry, it's just that... I keep
important stuff in here.

Let me see that bag, Nico.

It just has my school supplies,
a gift from my brother...

That's all.
- Nico!

No, no, no.
- Nico, give it...

Please, we never open it.
Please!

Give me that bag.

If they find out,
they'll kill me.

Please, I'm begging you.
Don't open it.

Give it to me, Nico.

Will you?

What?

If I open this bag,

am I going to find something
no 12-year-old should have,

much less bring to school?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Nico, if I find
something like that,

I'll have no choice
but to report it,

and from then on everything will
get much more complicated for you.

So what are you going to do?

That's what you
have to tell me.

Good morning.

I looked up your questions,

they're up front with
your names on them.

Nico, I know you've had
a lot of catching up to do,

but out of all my students,
you've made the most progress.

Remember what I said at the top of the
year about taking charge of your lives?

You have to decide which
direction you want your life to go.

Do you want it
to go this way?

Or this way.

You can't have both.

Almost on time.

At least you're making progress.

Today, we're having Rosita's
dance presentation.

It's going to be fantastic.

But before we begin,
it's game time.

Pay attention.

There was a famous mathematician
named

Carl Friedrich Gauss.

In 1777, when he was a kid,

his teacher wanted to
keep all his students busy,

so he asked them to add up all
the numbers from 1 to 100.

This was supposed
to take them hours,

but Gauss answered immediately.

Can anyone tell
me how he did it?

Uh, Team 2? Paloma?

Is it... 5050?

How did you get that?

I added 100 plus 1... 101.

99 plus 2, 101.

98 plus 3, 101.

In total, there are
50 pairs of 101.

Team 2 gets a point.

I need to report an incident.

Are we done here?
- It seems we are.

What happened?

A student may have brought
contraband to school.

"May have brought"?
- Yeah, I'm not certain.

Who's the offender?

Me.

Come again?

Yes, maybe I should've
reported the student.

Isn't that what you're
doing right now? - Yes.

No.

No, because I'm reporting myself.

For what?

For failing to report something
that... Maybe I should have.

I chose not to
look in their bag.

So, who is the student?
- No, I can't tell you that.

Because technically, there
hasn't been any violation.

And I want to give
them an opportunity.

I just... I'm not sure
I did the right thing.

This seems more like a
confession than a report.

I didn't do it just
for him. Or her.

It's just that the whole class is
engaging, the method is working.

If I report this student now,
I could lose everyone's trust.

It would ruin the whole thing,
and I don't want to lose them.

So what am I supposed to do?

Tell me I did the right thing?

Sergio,

the only thing that you did...

was confuse the hell out of me.

Can I walk you home?

Don't you live by the beach?

Yes, but I'm taking
the long way today.

Besides, you'll be a
lot safer with me...

Suit yourself.

You can build your own rocket,

and you get to experience a
zero-gravity chamber.

And look, there's also a
simulation of a failed launch,

where you have
to regain control.

And get this:

Three students have
become real astronauts.

Sergio told me that...
- Wait a second.

Sergio gave you this?

Wanna see something?

Are you okay, Papa?
- Yes, don't worry.

I'm just a little beat today.

Who's this? - Good
afternoon. I'm Nico.

We're partners on
a science project.

Let me take my bag
inside, I'll be right back.

Eh, how are you, sir?

Okay.

Come on.

Sorry about the smell.
- What smell?

Here.

Where did you get that?

I... found it.

Whoa. - You haven't
seen anything yet. Here.

What's that?
- My tripod.

Doesn't it have to be nighttime?

Look.

Where?
- There.

Where the ocean meets the sky.

What... what's that?

SpaceX. It's the launch
site in Boca Chica, Texas.

Soon the world's biggest rockets
will be launched from there.

And we can watch
them from right here.

They're asleep.

What are you reading?

About moral dilemmas.

I don't understand a lot of it,
but it's very interesting.

Like...

let's say you're the
captain of a sinking ship.

You have 30 passengers,
but the lifeboat only holds 15.

How do you choose
who to save, and why?

What class is that for?
- It's not for school.

I got it from the
university. For myself.

Wait, what?

That library is amazing,
you should see it.

I thought I'd liketo
study philosophy,

but after seeing all
those books... I dunno.

But I want to be a
professor, that's for sure.

Philosophy?

Professor?

Honey...

You're not even going
back to school next year.

I have to work, who's going to
look after your baby brother, huh?

Look, if it means a lot to
you and you really want to,

I'm sure you can get back to
it after, once he's in kindergarten.

Let's go, Paloma.

Oh, there you are!
Special presentation today.

Your class gets the first slot.
9:00 am. Computer lab. - Okay.

The District sent a technician.

He'll show some basic
concept to the kids

He'll explain to them
how a computer works.

Really? - Yes, he's
setting up now.

What happened?

I insisted, I pressed.

I could kiss you.
- Please don't...

I haven't brushed my teeth.

See you there.

Nico!

How did it go?
- I think... good?

What's this?
- A little gift.

Call it a Christmas bonus...

I'm not big on tests,
much less practice ones.

You see the date?

2012? But that's this year.

It's not a practice test.
It's the real deal.

Where did you get this?
- It's everywhere.

You just have to know
where to look.

Thanks but...

No.

It's ok. We're all
together on this.

You can keep doing your thing if
you prepare them with this

the other teachers won't be so
bothered by your little... experiments.

Thanks, but... Count me out.

Thing is, we're
evaluated as a whole.

If your students do poorly,
you bring us all down.

So you kind of...
have to be in.

What about the kids?
- They'll have no idea.

If they excel, they graduate.
If they fail, they graduate.

No matter what happens, they
graduate. That's how it's always been.

The only difference is whether we
get a bonus along the way or not.

No, the only difference

is whether or not we
teach them to cheat.

That's the difference.

Laptops? Even better!

Good morning.
- Morning!

Believing computers are a vital
part of the modern economy...

Eh, the government of Matamoros...
- Cut to the chase, man.

Okay.

This is a CPU, or Central
Processing Unit.

It's the brain
of the computer...

The CPU stores the
data and executes

the operations that
make a computer work...

Did you know that a
computer can execute up to...

four million commands per second...

Hey!

What are you doing?
- Excuse me?

I assume you gave
this to my daughter?

You must be Paloma's father.

Twelve hundred dollars.

I don't make that in
a year. - No, no, uh...

They offer scholarships, the
school would recommend her.

Paloma has a good shot.

We could hold a fundraiser
for her travel expenses.

I'm sure that...
- Look, Maestro.

I may be poor.

I've worked all my life
sifting through trash,

but I'm no beggar.

Oh, no, no. That's
not what I meant.

Look.

I know this may seem
like a big stretch for you,

but Paloma isn't
just any student.

She can get that scholarship.
- And then, what?

When she goes to this "space
camp" and sees all that crazy stuff,

And then returns here?
To reality?

You know...

You blast these kids off like
rocket ships into space,

after packing their heads
with all these ideas.

But when they leave your class
and return to the real world,

when they come crashing back down
to earth, where will you be then?

Will you be here to catch them
and tell them to keep trying?

No...

You'll be filling another bunch
of heads with your crazy ideas,

reminding them of
what they can't have,

what they can
never be. - Papa?

Please, Maestro.

Don't do that to my daughter.

Come on, Paloma.

You can't go in!
- Excuse me.

I know you're busy.
- I tried to stop him.

Sorry to interrupt, but...
- Who are you?

I'm Sergio Juarez Correa.

I teach at Escuela
Primaria Jose Urbina Lopez.

I wanted to talk to you about...

About the situation with...

with our computers.

It's fine, Martha.

We always make time for our
soldiers on the front line.

Interesting choice of words.
- Pardon me?

Soldier. Front lines...

As if I were at war,
fighting an enemy.

But no. I...

I spend all day with...
children.

So, tell me...

How can I help you?

Nacho asked about you today.

"When is the pretty
boy going to start?"

Now that school's winding down,
he wants to show you the ropes.

What is it?

Do you see out there?

You can't tell where the ocean
ends and the sky begins.

Did you know that right now,
technically, we're standing in outer space?

What?

Yeah, it comes all the
way down to here.

What we think of as the
sky is just a layer of gas.

It doesn't feel like there's
anything, it seems empty,

But it actually has mass...
like weight...

and it's always being
pulled towards Earth.

It's trapped here.

Just like we are.

Hey, I'm not going to work
for Nacho. - Are you serious?

But you hate school.
What happened?

I don't know.
I just... like it.

There's this teacher,
who does things differently.

With him, I think I
could actually be smart.

And, there's this girl...

Ha! The truth comes out.

Check out our little Don Juan!

Listen...

If you had a shot to do something
else, I'd want you to take it.

But with Nacho, once
you're in, you're never out.

But I was never
really in... right?

Hey! Need a ride?

I was enjoying the
walk, but sure.

Your car in the shop?
- Yeah.

Forever.

I traded it for
something more useful.

Is that what I think it is?

Now you'll see
what they can do.

You didn't have to do that.
- Oh, I did.

I'm sorry, I really thought...
- It's okay, I know.

In fact, I really
appreciate your effort.

Your wife didn't get mad?

Are you married?
- No.

Good, because...

I think I'll be staying at
your place for a while.

His approach is unorthodox,
but the results are compelling.

Yes, I'm sure.

We have visitors. To what
do we owe the honor?

I take it you know each other...

What are you doing?
- Meditating.

We were having a discussion
and things got pretty intense,

so we were taking a
moment to cool down.

Don't mind me.
Please, continue.

I'm just here to observe.

What were you discussing?

We were discussing... morality.

Morality?

That's not a subject
we're familiar with.

According to the
lesson plan... March 20th...

you should be preparing
for the ENLACE test.

Yeah, but Lupita has
taken an interest in philosophy.

Philosophy? - And she
was sharing with the class

some of the things
she has learned.

Last year, in the fifth grade,

this class's scores were
among the worst in the nation.

I find it strange you have time to
do anything but prepare for the test.

Well, like I said.

Someone told Lupita
she was far too young

to read about philosophy.

Like which?

I wanted to know what John
Stuart Mill would say about abortion.

Abortion?

And what do you
think he'd say? - Well...

If we want the greatest good for
the greatest number of people,

I think that if you're struggling
to afford rent and food,

It's better not to bring more
children into the world who are

only going to suffer.

And that would also cause
more suffering for others.

So, yes.

There are cases where abortion
might be the right thing to do.

My god.

So, how do you feel
about this conclusion?

Well, I think about
my own siblings.

Sometimes they
are a lot of work,

but I also don't like imagining
them not having been born.

I don't know.

It's very complicated.

But it's cool.

We all agreed that condoms
are the obvious answer.

Condoms?! - Well,
not everyone agrees.

In fact, we had quite a
debate about that, didn't we?

According to Stuart Mill,
something can be good or bad

depending on the situation.

Is there something
that in his view

would always be
immoral in every case?

Anything that hurts many
for the benefit of a few.

Like what?

Like if someone steals something
that is meant for everybody?

Very good, Nico.
So something like...

Corruption?

Given you have the time to discuss
such advanced subjects in class,

You must have total command
of the basic sixth grade skills

You, tell me...

What's the square root of 256?

What's the square root of 256?
What is that supposed to show?

No? With whom was
Mexico at war in 1846?

He hasn't gone
over that yet, he's...

Explain Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Hold on...

As I suspected...

This child lacks the basic knowledge
expected from a sixth grader.

Mr. Juarez, he's the
definition... of an ignoramus.

Now wait
- Hey Nico!

And undisciplined too!

What's wrong with you?
Why did you do that?

To me, say what you want, but
don't you talk to the kids that way.

The square root of 256 is 16.

Mexico fought the U.S. in 1846.

Darwin's theory of Evolution
is the survival of the fittest.

Thank you, Mr. Juarez. See
me in the Director's Office.

I've been thinking about our
game from the first day, remember?

The boats and the passengers?

There's an obvious solution.

You shouldn't sell more tickets
than there are spaces in the lifeboats.

Wait, Sergio. - I bet he's taking
bribes from those assholes!

Wait, Sergio!

I asked you not to kick the
hornet's nest, and what did you do!?

Abortion? Condoms?
Corruption?!

I can't ask my students to be fearless
learners, to do whatever it takes -

to go wherever their
inquiries take them...

And then what?

Turn into a bootlicker
right in front of them?

Think of the big picture

What matters is that they
keep you as their teacher.

So what if you have
to lick a few boots?

Are you serious?

Mr. Director? I'm waiting...
- Right away, sir.

Mr. Juarez...

I must say I was very disturbed
to receive numerous complaints

that your kids aren't being
prepared for the ENLACE test,

But I didn't imagine the
situation would be this bad.

So you are hereby suspended
for two weeks. - What?!

Until after your class has been
prepared for the ENLACE test,

For which you have
obviously so little regard. - Look...

You're right, I won't deny it.

I think it's a useless test.

but don't take that
out on the kids.

Ok, I'll do it, I'll prepare
them.

For the next two weeks, that's
all we'll do: prepare for the ENLACE.

But please... don't suspend me.

To bring in anyone else but me to
prepare them would just be... stupidity.

You can thank your Director
that this is only a suspension,

and not a permanent dismissal.

But to be honest, I'm starting
to reconsider my decision.

That won't be necessary.

That won't be necessary.

Anything else to add?

No.

Good day, Professors.

This is insane, Chucho.

Did you know that in my class,
right here in this school,

there's a girl who I'm sure
is a certifiable genius?

The only thing you knew about
her before I got here was that

"she could apply herself more."

Really?

How many kids in this
country could be like her?

But as long as we tolerate this
deliberate ignorance, we will never know.

I'm sorry, Sergio.

My hands are tied.
- Yeah, yeah.

Consider it a vacation.

Go spend some time with
your wife and baby.

Hey, you okay?

You know?
You're not stupid.

Or an ignoramus, or whatever
that man called you.

I mean it.

You always come up with the most
clever things to say, so quickly...

I could never do that.

There's the pretty boy!

Chepe says you're confused
about who you work for?

I couldn't believe it, so I
wanted to see for myself...

So? Do you work
for me, or not?

It suddenly occurs to me that
the reason you're confused

is because we never gave you a
proper welcome to the family.

A real initiation, you know?

Who's this?

She's no one, just a friend.

Go home.

Hang on, love. - Hey! - What's
going on? - Are you a virgin?

What?! - Nacho, don't!
- She'll do. - She's just a kid, man!

Hey!

Look at your brother,
trying to act tough!

They're just kids, man!

Wait, Nico!
- What the fuck?!

Lupe... Lupe!

Are you okay?!

Are you all okay?

Are you ok?

Paloma, are you all right?!

Nico...

Nico...

Carlos ate 3/8 of the pizza,

whereas Ricardo ate
1/4 of the same pizza.

How much of the pizza did
Carlos and Ricardo eat?

Anyone? No? All right.

Good morning, Laura.
- What a surprise.

Maybe you can
get him out of bed.

Excuse me.

Sergio.

Can we talk for a minute?

Sergio, the ENLACE
test is tomorrow.

That means your
suspension is over.

We're understaffed,
we could use your help.

We haven't heard
anything from you.

I need to know if
you're coming back.

You know I couldn't do
anything about what happened.

You know I was against it.

Sergio, open up!

I'm not leaving.
I'm staying right here.

I'm going to eat your
food, crap in your toilet...

Whatever it takes, I'm not
leaving until you come out.

Sergio...

You can't walk out
on these children.

They're traumatized
enough as it is.

Maybe it's the best way to
prepare them for the future.

Hi, how are you?
- Go.

Seriously?

That's it? You're gonna
give up so easily?

Yeah, why not?

You don't want to finish
what you started?

Sergio...

You saw for yourself
that you were succeeding.

Want to know what
I succeeded at?

I succeeded at getting...
they killed... one of my...

Look, look...

If you don't want to, you
don't have to come back...

Great, so why are you here?

Great, so why are
you here? For the kids...

I want to get my kids back.

They stopped coming?

I want them to take
the ENLACE test.

That fucking test...
Chucho...

Look, like I told you...

I failed...

Them...

Nico.

I thought...

I thought I was doing
things the right way.

Really, but...

I should've checked the backpack...

No, if I come back they're just
going to end up paying the price.

Again.

Sorry... - Wait
a minute, Sergio.

I really do think you were on the
verge of something big with them.

I saw it myself.

I have never seen children
respond like that before. Ever!

Or make such progress
in so little time.

But no one gives a shit
what we think of this method.

No one will care unless
we show measurable results.

That's what the test is for.

You said it yourself.
Paloma might be a genius.

But, how would we know...

Paloma? Paloma stopped coming?

Yes.

Good afternoon.

Paloma?

What are you doing here?

The director said he'd
leave me alone if...

I convince you to
come back to school.

You're not going back?

I don't know if I can.
- Why not?

Maybe your dad was right...

Maybe I've done more
harm than good.

I can't come back.

I have to look after
him now. He's sick.

I'm so sorry, Paloma.

I'm so sorry.

But my dad wasn't right...

You told us we had as much
potential as any other kid.

But what we didn't have
before you, was the belief...

That we could fulfill it.

I never could have allowed myself to
imagine the things I did in your class.

About who I could be,
what I could do.

And that's something
I get to have now.

I wouldn't have that
if it weren't for you.

And I'll never...

ever forget that.

But sometimes,
believing is not enough.

Sometimes...

the reality is the reality.

Look around...

This is my reality.

There's no escaping it.

And people like me...

like Nico...

We don't get to escape.

I understand.

Mr. Juarez.
- Mr. Noyola.

Paloma doesn't
need this anymore.

You should take it back. It
might get damaged here.

But... what is it?

She borrowed it from school,
for a science project.

The school could never
afford something like this.

She didn't borrow this.

She made it.
- What...?

That's impossible.

Isn't everything impossible
until it is done?

Wow.

Paloma is an extraordinary
girl, mr. Noyola.

I only wonder if you know
just how extraordinary.

Don't say that, Maestro.
- This is hers.

It's hers.

Can we make one more stop?

Paloma?

You should be resting, Papa.

Come, sit with me.

Are you feeling all right?

It's all gonna be Ok.

La Paloma

That list of yours...
have phone numbers?

Profe?

Look at that!

Over there.

Sit wherever you like.

Hurry up, everyone.

C'mon, guys, we're
running late! - I'm coming!

How are we doing?

Just a few more.

Look.

What's up with him? - Due to
numerous reports of irregularities,

they decided to
change this year's test.

Perhaps they got a lot of
tips from concerned citizens.

At least we're all on
a level playing field.

What?

Everyone take your seats...

Do not touch the materials in
front of you until the test begins.

Ok everyone, let's
quiet down please.

We're about to begin.

All right guys,
listen; real quick.

This test measures how
much you know, okay?

Maybe... this year I didn't teach
you everything you need to know.

So, there might be some things
that you don't recognize...

but there's nothing in this
test you can't figure out.

Okay?

Got it?

Actually...

Actually there is one thing I want
you to know before you take this test:

You have all taught
me so... very much.

And I am so very proud of each
and every single one of you.

All right! Now let's
go kick some ass!

You will have three hours
to complete the test.

You should try to answer as
many questions as you can.

Any answers left blank
will count against you

Good luck!

And... let's begin.

The year before Sergio's
arrival, only 55% of his

students passed the ENLACE in
Math and 69% in Language.

None received a score of
"Excellent."

In 2012, after a year with Sergio,

93% passed the Mathematics
portion, with 63% scoring

"Excellent",

and 97.5% passed the Language
portion, with 72% scoring

"Excellent".

Ten of Sergio's students scored
in the top 0.1% nationally in

Mathematics.

Paloma Noyola achieved the
highest score...

...in all of Mexico.

She became a national sensation
and received a private grant

that allowed her to
move to a new home.

Sergio Juarez Correa
still lives in Matamoros

where he continues
to teach sixth grade.

Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary
School still has no computer lab.

Subtitle correction:
suadnovic

Like a flame flickering
in the wind

It's the sand that rises

The sorrow that time heals

And knowing, knowing,
knowing, knowing

The sun will rise,
come morning light

Like the angel of destiny

Casts stones along the way

It's my voice, my light, my
heartbeat

And knowing, knowing,
knowing, knowing

The sun will rise,
come morning light

The laughter that sweetens life

The fight I embrace
each new day

All those pearls are hidden

In the darkness they'll remain.

Let's push against the current

Through seas and rivers,
a tidal surge

A strong burst of
faith is what's needed

Where will it lead?

Where will they go?

The light looks at us serene

Restless upon waking

A song that lives and resonates

And knowing, knowing,
knowing, knowing

The sun will rise, come morning
light

It's knowing, knowing,
knowing, knowing

The sun will rise,
come morning light

Knowing, knowing,
knowing, knowing

The sun will rise,
come morning light

The only thing that interferes
with my learning is my education�

Albert Einstein