Attica

Between the film shot at the time and the alarming interviews with former inmates and guards, the riot at Attica is brought to gritty life.

Anyone who imagines that prison is an appropriate or safe place for ANYONE, is delusional.

And anyone who imagines that the US had or has a functioning democracy, should know that the NY governor, Nelson Rockefeller, failed to act and is directly responsible for the deaths and injuries caused by the riot. He could have prevented them.

But Rockefeller wanted to run for the GOP nomination for President and could NOT afford to look soft on crime, so he ignored the crisis to achieve that.

He gets a pass in history books as relatively warm and fuzzy but he was a neo fascist, just like Nixon / Reagan / the Bushs / Trump.

Open my eyes on the brutality by correction. Which their job was care custody and control. Me being a retired correction officer l know people do crazy stuff in a group. Alot of correction believe their family member could never go to prison. The President at that time condone this.

I highly recommend this documentary although it is extremely distressing. The actual film clips and interviews with a range of those affected are exceptionally compelling. It seems that many "law and order" types might see this as "just desserts" for the persons incarcerated there (if you can't do the time, don't do the crime??!!). Extrajudicial killing during a disordered and politicized "law enforcement" response is anything but lawful and is an atrocity. The lack of accountability for the conditions that gave rise to the rebellion and for the murderous actions let loose by the authorities responsible is a stain on our country and its aspiration of "justice for all."

There are extensive interviews with all sides here, except for politicans like Rockefeller and Nixon. The ones complaining about "one sided" or "bias" are simply either lying or have faulty memories. There's extensive interviews with guards and especially the families of guards and administration. The warden also, he shows up in the film every few minutes.

And what were they insisting on? "Let's give equal weight to abuse and racism." Give equal weight to little medical care, denying right to practice religion, even petty abuse like one roll of toilet paper a month. Give equal weight to the fact that all guard deaths were by friendly fire by incompetently planned attacks.

Some of it is remarkable, white prisoners admitting they got favored treatment. This is the most insightful of the Attica documentaries or films based on the hostage crisis.

What a powerful documentary maybe the most powerful I have seen. This has interviews from inmates, family of guards, newsmen, and people who went inside at the time.