Movie fans know the striking Gyllenhaal from films as varied as Donnie Darko, Mona Lisa Smile, and The Dark Knight, but it’s her forthcoming Learning to Fly that will put her on the education map. The film, which is scheduled for release this spring, is a story many parents can relate to — Gyllenhaal plays a mom trying to improve her child’s school and fighting various barriers along the way. It’s a heavyweight production; Holly Hunter and Viola Davis also star in the film, which brings contemporary and complicated education issues to the big screen through a compelling narrative. Early reviews: think the urgency of Waiting for Superman with the nuance of Crazy Heart.