In this Daniel Barnz-directed drama, two mothers from different backgrounds join forces as they take a stand against the failing public school system for the sake of their children's education.
- May 17, 2012
AceShowbiz - The first trailer for "Won't Back Down" has just been made available for viewing pleasure. More than two minutes long, the promo video puts its focus on the classroom drama's two leading ladies, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis, and their fight against the public school system that has let down their children.
Gyllenhaal plays Jamie, a single mother to a dyslexic second-grader, while Davis takes on the role of a dedicated, but fed-up teacher, Nona. Risking everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children, these two mothers from different backgrounds join forces to institute a charter school for struggling children in the neighborhood and face a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy.
Speaking of her character, Davis told USA Today, "What I like about my character is that she puts a human face on these teachers." The two-time Oscar nominee continued to explain, "Nona has been in the system for 20 years and has lost her passion for teaching. That is pretty prevalent in school systems today. A lot start off gung-ho but then come up against a wall of bureaucracy."
To open in theaters across the United States on September 28, "Won't Back Down" comes from the hand of "Beastly" director Daniel Barnz. In addition to serving behind the lens, he also co-wrote the script with Brin Hill. The cast ensemble, in the meantime, include Holly Hunter, Oscar Isaac, Ving Rhames and Rosie Perez.
