Despite his dedication to the junior-high students who fill his classroom, idealistic teacher Dan Dunne leads a secret life of addiction that the majority of his students will never know. But things change when a troubled student Drey makes a startling discovery of his secret life, causing a tenuous bond between the two that could either end disastrously or provide a catalyst of hope.
Directed by Ryan Fleck
prison
new york city
sports
date
ex-girlfriend
class
ghetto
bicycle
basketball
crack
teacher
theft
alcoholic
liberal
junior high school
drug habit
freebasing
Rank
#70 in 2006·#3625 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.6 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Ryan Gosling
Dan Dunne
Shareeka Epps
Drey
Anthony Mackie
Frank
Jeff Lima
Roodly
Monique Gabriela Curnen
Isabel
Tina Holmes
Rachel
Nathan Corbett
Terrance
Tristan Mack Wilds
Jamal
Stephanie Bast
Vanessa
Eleanor Hutchins
Simone
Sebastian Sozzi
Javier
Karen Chilton
Karen
Crew
Ryan Fleck
Director
Anna Boden
Co-Director
Ryan Fleck
Writer
Anna Boden
Writer
Kevin Drew
Original Music Composer
Anna Boden
Editor
Andrij Parekh
Director of Photography
Lynette Howell Taylor
Producer
Rosanne Korenberg
Producer
Jamie Patricof
Producer
Anna Boden
Producer
Jeremy Kipp Walker
Co-Producer
Popular Reviews
657 reviews
Tomé
6.8★ · 12/26/25
I want Ryan Gosling as my teacher🧑🏫
I want Ryan Gosling as my teacher🧑🏫
2
Tina
9.0★ · 04/24/26
Most unrealistic part of this is a teacher not only having time to be a drug addict but also able to afford it
Most unrealistic part of this is a teacher not only having time to be a drug addict but also able to afford it
Altair
8.0★ · 04/14/26
I just want to hug him and tell him it's gonna be fine..
I just want to hug him and tell him it's gonna be fine..
louisa n.
8.0★ · 05/15/26
I feel it, it's really good but I skipped at the second half of the movie bc I was so scared he would end up a pedophile. So glad he didn't, now I can rewatch it again in peace
I feel it, it's really good but I skipped at the second half of the movie bc I was so scared he would end up a pedophile. So glad he didn't, now I can rewatch it again in peace
Bea Harris
8.0★ · 05/14/26
this movie does a good job of showing self destruction through addiction. he really does just give up near the end. drey going to check up on him is so sweet and sad, cause she cares for him :(( their little friendship
this movie does a good job of showing self destruction through addiction. he really does just give up near the end. drey going to check up on him is so sweet and sad, cause she cares for him :(( their little friendship