How Director Eden Wurmfeld and E.P. Edward Norton Created the Oscar-Shortlisted Film ‘Classroom 4’ That Touches Hearts
Professor’s Unique Classroom Inspires Award-Winning Documentary
Professor Reiko Hillyer of Lewis & Clark College has garnered attention for her innovative teaching approach, highlighted in the Oscar-shortlisted short film Classroom 4. This documentary focuses on a distinctive course held at the Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland, Oregon, where Hillyer instructs a diverse group of 30 students—15 incarcerated individuals and 15 undergraduates—over a semester-long exploration of the history of crime and punishment in the United States.
Directed by Eden Wurmfeld, the film has already received accolades, including the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Aspen Film Shortsfest and Best Documentary at the LA Shorts International Film Festival. Wurmfeld, who has known Hillyer since childhood, reflects on the initial anxieties faced by both groups of students as they navigated their first class meeting.
As students take their places in concentric circles—a setup fostering inclusivity—Hillyer initiates the session with ice breakers. These exercises prompt students to share personal anecdotes, fostering an environment of openness and vulnerability.
Hillyer notes that such activities also serve to alleviate any intimidation felt by the outside students, who may perceive their incarcerated counterparts as threatening. The film poignantly captures the evolution of their relationships, highlighting how fear eventually gives way to understanding. “I really wanted to show the relationship between the two groups of students and how separate and anxious everyone was at first,” Wurmfeld states, “and how they grew to be a unified group of students studying history and learning from each other.”
Over the course of 15 weeks, each class delves into themes such as mercy and the realities of prison life, allowing the outside students to engage with subjects that resonate deeply with the incarcerated men. As discussions deepen, their complex histories, including issues of childhood abuse and substance addiction, surface, fostering empathy and understanding among the participants.
Wurmfeld emphasizes the importance of amplifying the voices of the incarcerated men, acknowledging the transformative impact of their narratives. She believes the documentary challenges preconceived notions about those behind bars and prompts viewers to reflect on their own biases.
The film’s reach has extended to prominent figures, including multiple Oscar nominee Edward Norton, who serves as an executive producer. Norton remarks on the emotional weight of the film, suggesting it compels viewers to question missed opportunities for empathy in their own lives.
In a poignant voiceover within the film, Hillyer reveals her emotional investment in teaching, often brought to tears by the potential she sees in her students. Her capacity for compassion stands in stark contrast to contemporary societal trends that often privilege cruelty.
Wurmfeld observes that the film’s essence underscores empathy as a form of resistance in a world that frequently devalues compassion. She hopes viewers will carry this perspective forward in their lives.
Classroom 4 is available for free viewing on the PBS website, where it encapsulates the film’s mission: to foster empathy and a shared sense of humanity, urging viewers to connect with one another on a deeper level.
