3/5 Stars
In the genre of American prison films, Sing Sing undoubtedly stands out. Moving away from sensationalism, grand escape plots, and action sequences, it’s a quiet drama focusing on emotions and humanity.
The story centres on Divine G (Colman Domingo), a wrongfully incarcerated man who coordinates a theatre group in the titular Sing Sing prison. Through appreciating art and performing theatre, the Rehabilitation Through the Arts programme allows fellow convicts to escape the mundanity of prison life by coming together and expressing themselves. From timeless classics like Hamlet to truly original plays, the group’s range proves that creativity and artistry can be found in all of us, as long as we are open to exploring it.
While the programme exists in real life, director Greg Kwedar goes one step further to ground his film in reality. The vast majority of the cast are actual convicts and participants of the programme, who essentially play themselves. Bridging the gap between them and the professional actor Colman Domingo is Clarence Maclin, an ex-convict and ex-participant of the programme, whose life story shows that performing art can be a powerful tool for rehabilitation. These casting choices equip the story with a documentary-like quality, creating a blend of fiction and non-fiction.
However, fixated on its tangible authenticity, the film is quickly pushed into overly feel-good territory, where simplicity overshadows deeper complexities. The hopeful message is apparent from the start, offering few surprises along the way. Noble in its cause of humanising prisoners and revealing their vulnerability, Sing Sing allows no glimpse behind the saccharine positivity.
“Sing Sing” by Original uploader was Brett Weinstein (Nrbelex) at en.wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5.