The Dhamma Brothers

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The Dhamma Brothers

2008

1h 16m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In 2002, psychotherapist Jenny Phillips begins intensive meditation retreats for inmates at a maximum-security prison in rural Alabama. Based on the principles of Vipassana meditation, the 10-day retreats are conducted in total silence. This documentary explores the lives of four convicted murderers before, during and after the arduous retreats, as well as reactions from residents of the nearby town of Bessemer, many of whom object to the program on religious or social grounds.

Critics Consensus

This thoughtful if rough hewn doc about death row inmates who discover Buddhism inspires hope that all of us are worthy of redemption.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

06/13/2008

An example of advocacy filmmaking at its most inspired.

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

05/16/2008

2.5/4

A sincere but unevenly made documentary about Buddhism on death row.

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Tom Keogh

Seattle Times

05/09/2008

3/4

Most of these men will never know freedom beyond prison walls, but they have learned liberation from within.

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Dave White

Movies.com

04/04/2011

3.5/5

Marc Mohan

Oregonian

05/16/2008

B

The thoughtfulness and humanity of these inmates is a potent reminder that there's almost no such thing as a lost cause.

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07/14/2019

Beautiful and inspiring. The beauty of the human soul.

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02/17/2013

Another good documentary about trying something different, meditation to inmates who have been in prison for doing horrific crimes. Others in the street who are Christian, tend to dismiss this program because its something that they don't believe. If the people are paying taxes for this prisoners, having programs like this can make such a big difference but also to those who might get out to the world again. Most of those prisoners return back to prison because they're not accepted and are not mentally ready to experience the real world again. Quite interesting if they starting doing this in almost all prisons.

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12/07/2012

Inspiring human transformation...in such an unlikely place. It fills me with hope for humanity.

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09/05/2012

This is a great film.

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08/19/2012

Powerful and inspirational stuff.

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06/19/2012

Yes! This is Spiritual and Cultural Evolution in Action!! Sadhu! __/|\__

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Jenny Phillips

Director

Andrew Kukura

Director

Anne Marie Stein

Director

Jonathan Crowley

Actor

Jenny Phillips

Writer

Bestor Cram

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

In 2002, psychotherapist Jenny Phillips begins intensive meditation retreats for inmates at a maximum-security prison in rural Alabama. Based on the principles of Vipassana meditation, the 10-day retreats are conducted in total silence. This documentary explores the lives of four convicted murderers before, during and after the arduous retreats, as well as reactions from residents of the nearby town of Bessemer, many of whom object to the program on religious or social grounds.

Director: Jenny Phillips, Andrew Kukura, Anne Marie Stein
Producer: Jenny Phillips, Anne Marie Stein
Screenwriter: Jenny Phillips
Distributor: Third Rail
Production Co: Northern Light Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.4K
Runtime: 1h 16m