Attica

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Attica

Released Oct 29, 2021

1h 56m

Documentary

History

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56 Reviews

86%

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50+ Ratings

During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. On the morning of Sept. 9, it all comes to a head as Attica becomes the stage for one of the largest U.S. prison riots ever.

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Critics Consensus

Attica revisits the titular riot with intelligence, compassion, and anger, presenting a version of events that honors history as much as it exemplifies the art of documentary filmmaking.

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Wendy Ide

Screen International

A forthright indictment of the institutional racism and human rights abuses in the American penal system at the time.

Mar 14, 2022

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Dmitry Samarov

Chicago Reader

Traci A. Curry and Stanley Nelson's Attica utterly devastated me.

Nov 24, 2021

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Verne Gay

Newsday

Nelson has made a career of fixing our gaze, however strong the impulse is to avert it.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 5, 2021

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Bill Brioux

Brioux.tv

This is an unblinking look at the upstate 1971 New York massacre...

Aug 30, 2022

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Attica opens another door. This documentary is the rifle held by Sonny [Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon, 1975]. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 11, 2022

Full Review

Cody Dericks

Next Best Picture

It may not break new ground in terms of documentary filmmaking style, but "Attica" successfully brings an under-discussed historical event to modern audiences in a way that subtly highlights its parallels with the current day.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 11, 2022

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Leaburn O

One of the best documentaries I've seen in awhile. I didn't know the story beyond it being a prison uprising and Pacino's famous Dog's Day Afternoon scene. How this unravelled is astonishing and nowadays would be deemed an era defining moment. It's wonderfully evoked in this documentary. Watched on BBC iPlayer.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

Full Review

Gabrielle A

A must see yes, but be aware, it's even violent to watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

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jona i

Refreshing and tragic to hear the story from those who lived and survived the event and its sickening conclusion!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"Attica" is easily the most shocking documentary I've ever seen but is also one of the most impactful. It centers on the 1971 prison uprising in New York and includes first-hand accounts from survivors. The footage is graphic and extremely disturbing but is essential to the story being told. Essential viewing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A fascinating, riveting look at the 1971 occupation and resulting massacre at New York's Attica State Prison, on it's 50th Anniversary. If you ever wondered about Richard Nixon's place in history as a racist piece of garbage, watch this film and it will probably seal the deal for you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

dave d

Attica is a thorough look back 50 years later at the prison's darkest hour and law enforcement's unforgivable decision to massacre dozens on humans. Racist guards, and a culture of abuse led us to one of the finer documentary films of the year. Whether you're familiar or not, the doc using talking heads of prisoners, reporters, negotiators, and even relatives of the guards who worked at the prison. Certainly a bit one-sided, but when one side is right and the other is wrong it could be best described as accurate. Final Score: 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Stanley Nelson

Director

Traci Curry

Director

Clarence Jones

Self

Stanley Nelson

Writer

Stanley Nelson

Producer

Traci Curry

Producer

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Attica: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. On the morning of Sept. 9, it all comes to a head as Attica becomes the stage for one of the largest U.S. prison riots ever.

Director: Stanley Nelson, Traci Curry
Producer: Stanley Nelson, Traci Curry
Screenwriter: Stanley Nelson
Distributor: Showtime Documentary Films
Production Co: Showtime Documentary Films, Topic Studios, Firelight Films
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2021
Runtime: 1h 56m

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