The performance of disadvantaged students in Mr. Escalante's math program shows what can be done when students are motivated, given confidence, and have an excellent teacher. It shows that with hard work, the barriers of an impoverished background can be overcome. The movie is an excellent example of historical fiction using several literary devices to present a reasonably accurate version of what happened, as understood at the time by the filmmakers. The fact that after the movie was made, an investigation disclosed that some of the facts presented in the film were probably incorrect throws into high relief the role of facts in historical fiction.