The Quilters

I absolutely loved this short film. And I was so disappointed when it ended.

This film follows a program in a prison where prisoners with good behaviour join a quilting class.

What is so lovely about this film is that you see the prisoners express themselves creatively through quilting for foster children. Something you probably wouldn't expect from hardened criminals. I wish this was a series. I wish we could learn more about them and their crimes and their outreach programs. I feels like there was something of value to learn here. They take real pride in what they're doing.

It's definitely worth watching, I do recommend.

I cannot recommend this enough. Sure, it's about men in prison - many who will spend the rest of their lives there, who make peraonal quilts for foster kids that they will never meet. But what it's really about is how the mistakes we make, even when big, aren't necessarily who we are and don't have to define our lives. None of these men excuse their crimes, and they shouldn't - the overriding sentiment of all of them is, "I make no excuses", but they've chosen not to be defined by what they did and to try to do what they can to bring some light to others.

On an artistic level (and quilt making IS an art) these men take their craft VERY seriously; and their specialties reflect their strengths (the man who always does butterflies because that is his mom to him). They truly are amazing artisans.

In any case, I highly recommend taking 30 minutes of your day to watch this short documentary. My only complaint is I wish it was longer...and I hope Fred was given a second chance and was allowed back.

There is much to love about this far-too-short glimpse into the lives of these men and the good work they are doing in this world. I love how they recognize their past wrongs and take responsibility for them, and then turn around and work, every day, in this small quilting shop, away from the tough side of a maximum security prison, creating beautiful gifts for foster kids in whom they see something of themselves. I think they hope to give those kids some hope for their own futures so that those kids, starting out so far behind, don't end up where these inmates currently are. These men, while still struggling with the demons of their former selves, are meticulous and thoughtful about their fabric choices, and the quilt design and block layout, making sure that the corners are clean and there are no puckers, giving these kids the recognition and care that they will never know about and that those kids' families never did in order to atone and pay forward and to heal both themselves and those kids. They are not transformed into perfect humans, but they have been given a purpose and that purpose has made them want to be better members of society. And I think that is beautiful and the best outcome you can hope for.

This is SUCH a beautiful thing they are doing & a wonderful documentary! It should be a SERIES!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 The quilts are breathtaking & extremely unique! This is how you redeem yourself, for sure...by giving back to those who are in need, especially children!! I really like how focused the men are, and that they have their priorities straight. Are they perfect? No, but they are trying to do what they can to brighten a child's day with something that is hand made and one of a kind. Thirty minutes if just not enough time for this type of documentary in my opinion, which is why Netflix should pick this up & make it an ongoing series. I'm sure others feel the same way I do! Love it!!!

'You've got to forgive yourself before you forgive others'.

You might think this is a piece of sentimental fluff, but when it's spoken by a man who's spent 40 years in prison, it carries weight and meaning.

Some prisoners coming together for a project is a familiar theme, but in this doc, you can feel how they express their soul through their creative vision. Like 'Chill' who has to act tough outside but makes beautiful butterfly quilts for little girls. He expresses the feminine part of his personality, acquired from his mom, through these quilts. I felt terrible for the man who took back a razor and fabric he was working on back to the cell. He could never see the full fruits of his vision.

Loved the documentary and the inmates. It gives hope for humanity.