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Waiting for "Superman" (Waiting for "Superman")

World Panorama - Doha Tribecca Film Festival 2010

Synopsis

Geoffrey Canada makes an unlikely movie star. Nevertheless, the fiery education activist - whose innovative community school program worked miracles in New York's long-troubled African-American neighborhood of Harlem - plays a major role in "Waiting for "Superman," a new documentary about public schools by the same filmmaker, production company and studio that gave former U.S. Vice President Al Gore a platform to present the issue of climate change with the 2006 Academy Award-winning "An Inconvenient Truth." Here, director Davis Guggenheim profiles the families of five children who aim to improve their chances for a university education by entering new public and private school programs, but nothing - including their entry to these different learning institutions - is guaranteed. Alternately heartbreaking and humorous, the documentary does more than outline massive problems in American public education - it also offers solid solutions that can, hopefully, resolve the ongoing crisis.

Official Film Website

About the Director

Davis Guggenheim
Guggenheim's "An Inconvenient Truth," with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, won the Academy Award® for best documentary in 2007. His next film, "It Might Get Loud," featured Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. Guggenheim has also directed episodes of many television series, including "Deadwood," "NYPD Blue," and "24."

Credits

Director

Davis Guggenheim

Screenwriter

Davis Guggenheim, Billy Kimball

Editor

Greg Finton, Jay Cassidy, Kim Roberts

Executive Producer

Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann

Co-Producer

Eliza Hindmarch

Music

Christophe Beck

Cast

The Black Family, Geoffrey Canada, The Esparza Family, The Hill Family, George Reeves, Michelle Rhee, Bill Strickland, Randi Weingarten

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