It’s definitely the year of the documentary and here comes another one; again, a subject that is currently being highlighted more.
Time
Dir. Garrett Bradley / Dur. 81 mins
Strand:- Debate
In A Nutshell:- Told through the many home videos kept over the years as well as current interviews, Time tells the story of Sibil Fox Richardson who is attempting to secure her husband’s release from prison after being sentenced to 65 years without parole for robbery.
The Good:- It’s a subject that is very much to the fore of people’s minds much more than it used to be in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement:- the fact that BIPOC prisoners on average get far longer sentences for crimes. In a desperate move, Fox and her husband Rob planned and committed a robbery. Fox served three and a half years; at the time of the documentary being made, Rob is coming up on twenty years behind bars. What shines through is the sheer impressiveness of Fox Rich (as she styles herself). Not only has she campaigned tirelessly since her own release for a reduction in her husband’s sentence but she runs her own business ventures as well as raising six children on her own. That passion and determination is clear as is, unfortunately, the anger and weariness at a system that is largely indifferent to the injustice being committed here.
The Bad:- This is purely a personal criticism; at times, the voiceover veered a little too far into the evangelical for my liking but really that’s just me. I largely prefer my documentaries to be thin on editorialising so that IO can judge for myself on the facts presented.
The Verdict:- At times heartbreaking but ultimately heart-warming, the film does an effective job of highlighting the plight of not just those prisoners given unjust sentences but also the impact that it has on their families and loved ones. Definitely one to watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment