Release: 4th May (limited)
Director: Vadim Jean
Starring: Samuel L Jackson, Robert King, Herman Wallace
Verdict: Unjustly overlooked
The story of the Angola 3 is this: three black men, all involved with the political activism of the black panthers in the late 60’s, found their way to solitary confinement in Angola state penitentiary in Louisiana. There, they would jointly spend over a century confined to a 6x9x12 ft cell, not for their original crimes, but for murders committed inside Angola and blamed on them.
Guided by interviews with the immensely likeable Robert King – the only member of the Angola 3 out of prison – and Samuel Jackson’s voiceover, the documentary uses this case to remind one of the injustices, past and present, hidden in America’s judicial system.
Director Vadim Jean splits screen time between examining the psychological effects of solitary confinement, the racial tension of the 1970’s and the apparent miscarriage of justice that led to the men’s imprisonment. This is not a hard headed exploration of their cases, and if there is one criticism to be made, it is of a slight lack of focus. The film seems a little unsure of what it wants to be, and paints quite a broad picture rather than going for specifics.
But it is a compelling picture nevertheless. The portrayal of the deprivations of freedom are terrifying and nicely contrasted with the mental strength of those subjected to them. Whether or not these men are ‘guilty’ is never entirely resolved, but if the film seems a little one sided its only because the evidence is so damning. You will be outraged.
It’s a tightly constructed documentary, splitting footage taken of Angola prison with snippets of the incarcerated men’s voices to great effect. Again, the tone can feel a little predictable (I found some of the musical backing unnecessary) but in general it’s hard to tell if that’s the film’s own flaw or a consequence of the material its dealing with. Towards the end, the film strays slightly into sentimentality, but the rest is so riveting I’m inclined to let it slide because they’ve earned it.
It would be too easy to dismiss the film as inconsequential, detailing a shady past which America has progressed from, but the uncomfortable truth is that this documentary has never been more relevant. I thoroughly recommend it.
