Shakespeare Behind Bars

Shakespeare Behind Bars was the most surprising and delightful film I've seen all year. It's about a prison program, somewhere in California if I recall correctly, where the inmates have rehearsed and performed a different Shakespeare play every year for the past 14 years. The film follows their production of "The Tempest" from casting through performance, and in the process we learn some pretty amazing things about these men, who are all in for the most serious of crimes. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction -- if anyone tried to adapt this story into a fiction film, the audience would never buy it, but knowing that it's real makes it breathtaking to watch -- literally; I gasped out loud when I learned of one particularly gifted felon's crime. It's like some loopy episode of Oz, and all the more entertaining because the characters and their bizarre stories are real.

The Luther Luckett Correctional Facility is the setting for "Shakespeare Behind Bars," which is a look at prisoners performing Shakespeare in one of 66 programs this particular prison runs. SBB was founded by actor-director-producer-writer Curt Tofeland, and at the time of the filming of this documentary, the program was in its 16th year.

The documentary not only takes us through the rehearsals and performance, but more importantly gives us a look at the convicts portraying the various roles. Despite the fact that they're in for things like murder, manslaughter, and child molestation, they come off as likable, troubled people using the performance experience to learn more about themselves and others. There's Sammi, the computer wizard who runs a computer program at the prison; up for parole in six months, he already has a job waiting for him; Hal, a gay man from a conservative religious family who married and ended up killing his wife; Red, who plays the female role of Miranda, a part that dovetails his own life experiences perfectly, Big G, who plays Caliban, and three men who are cast as Antonio at three different times due to problems.

The production at the time of the documentary is "The Tempest," which is set on an island, very much like the prison itself.

The program gives the men who embrace it some understanding of what they did to their victims and who they are themselves, self-esteem, with the knowledge that they can perform Shakespeare and learn the difficult lines, and a sense of accomplishment, as some of these men have never completed anything in their lives, and provides some catharsis for their emotions. One hopes that if they ever get out, they can bring some of the compassion and discipline with them. Will they? Hard to say.

To hear each of these men describe his crime is a very emotional experience, for them and for the viewer. We're not seeing one-dimensional monsters here, but human beings who have hurt or destroyed their lives and the lives of others by making some really stupid choices, sometimes on the spur of the moment.

Viewers should find this both interesting and fascinating. Even more interesting and fascinating is an update on the prisoners, found here: http://www.shakespearebehindbars.org/documentary/castupdates.htm.

I volunteer in a prison literacy program which runs (or tries to) in a maximum security prison on the East Coast. Over the past two years, restrictions in the prison have made it increasingly difficult for the program to run. At the same time, cuts in budgets have meant that the only education programs for prisoners are the mandatory G.E.D. classes for inmates under 21. Many, many of the inmates have no programs at all. This film is important because it shows inmates as the thinking, feeling human beings that they are and because it demonstrates how important it is for inmates to have opportunities for growth and self-expression in prison. Given societal attitudes towards prisoners (lock them up and throw away the key) , these opportunities are increasingly scarce. It would be nice if viewers of the film (who think programs like the Shakespeare program are good for society, as well as for the prisoners) would contact their elected officials to find out what kinds of educational programs are available in prisons in their state. In the prison I have worked with, these types of programs are discouraged. The administrators prefer to keep the inmates locked up pretty much all of the time, with nothing to do.

One of the best parts of Sundance is seeing movies that you would otherwise almost certainly miss. Unless you're a real art-house devotee, you probably don't catch many documentaries. Only a handful get any recognizable distribution. Fortunately, Sundance has increased its commitment to documentaries in recent years.

Shakespeare Behind Bars is a powerful documentary about a dramatic production group at the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in LaGrange, Kentucky. Every year a group of inmates present a Shakespearean play. Director Hank Rogerson and his crew follow the troupe as roles are self-selected, interpreted, rehearsed and ultimately performed.

The movie is filled with fascinating revelations for those of us that have not been exposed to prison environments. Despite the labels we know them by (convict, felon, murderer, etc.) we soon began to appreciate and respect these men as thinking feeling human beings. Serendipitously, the play chosen for the year of filming was The Tempest, with its penetrating focus on forgiveness and redemption. The actors all grapple with the relevance of the play to their lives, finding patterns and parallels with their characters and the meaning of the drama.

For a documentary film, like a book, the best that can be hoped for is that we experience something that changes our lives. Shakespeare Behind Bars was a personal revelation for me. "O brave new world, that has such creatures in it."

My father was the warden of the prison (he is retired now) showcased in this documentary and I've grown up around the prison life, so perhaps my views will be totally different from everyone else who watches this movie. I will say this, the filmmakers who brought us this 93-minute miracle are fantastic artists and even better people. They were brave enough to A) Show up and tell this story, B) Get inside these inmates minds and hearts, and C) Do all of this responsibly. Responsible to their art and, more importantly, responsible to the inmates and staff of Luther Luckett Correctional Complex. They should be commended without end for this work. To take 170 hours, yes HOURS, of footage and be able to cut and whittle it down to 93 riveting minutes is nothing short of extraordinary and they have my utmost respect.

I saw this film under circumstances that only a very, very few were able to see it. I was at the inmate screening. I was in the same room with these men as they watched their hearts being poured out on screen. I saw men crying on television crying in the chair in front of me and let me tell you, it was a very profound experience. These men have committed horrendous crimes in some cases, yet have found ways to try to redeem themselves, even if they view themselves as unredeemable. How many of us have the courage to do this? How many people could do what they have done in such a harsh environment? To see them react to the film was an experience I am eternally grateful for, and I will never forget that. I thank the men who allowed me this glimpse into their lives, I thank my father for making ALL of this possible, and I thank Philomath Films for taking the time to pour their blood, sweat, soul, and tears into this project.

This movie will change everything you think you know about prison life, and the inmates held within it. 'Oz' is not real, television is not real. 'Shakespeare Behind Bars' is.