Waiting for Superman

A documentary sure to spark conversation (and arguments) amongst parents and teachers, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim's Waiting for Superman offers an eye-opening overview of America's ailing educational system. The title comes from Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, who as a kid in the Bronx learned that Superman was a fiction—a fact that broke his heart but also ultimately inspired him to help underprivileged children. In addition to Canada, Guggenheim profiles former Washington, D.C., school chancellor Michelle Rhee. But the most engaging portraits here are of Anthony, Bianca, Francisco, Daisy, and Emily—five children attending schools in D.C., the Bronx, East Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley that are uniformly inadequate to their needs. Bianca's single mother, for instance, sends her daughter to a private facility but must stop when she can no longer afford the tuition. The five families profiled choose the charter school option, but not everyone will win the lotteries determining enrollment, since applicants greatly outnumber spaces (in Bianca's case: 35 winners out of 767 hopefuls). Guggenheim raises provocative questions about teachers unions, which he concludes sometimes act against students' best interests, particularly in cases where tenure protects underperforming instructors; but he also credits dedicated professionals who help at-risk kids beat the odds. Ultimately, the film argues persuasively that in the matter of education, parents who are actively involved have an advantage over those who accept whatever comes their way. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Davis Guggenheim and producer Lesley Chilcott, four additional stories (32 min.), the “making-of” musician John Legend's title track “Shine” for the film (7 min.), a “Changing the Odds” featurette (6 min.), a conversation with Guggenheim (2 min.), “The Future Is in Our Classrooms” featurette (2 min.), and text updates. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a powerful documentary.] (K. Fennessy)