Synopsis
Once the largest women's prison in Europe, Holloway Prison, before its demolition six former prisoners decided to walk back through its gates one last time. Though they have different personalities, backgrounds, hopes and dreams, they are all determined to reclaim their stories and give voice to those women still behind bars. As they explore the empty cells and corridors they once lived, memories resurface. In the prison's former chapel, the group gathers for a women's circle. Initial tensions arise because they view Holloway through very different lenses: for some, it was a site of "nightmares"; for others, a "holiday camp" or a "home." Each woman struggles with vulnerability in her own way: some feel mistrust, or mask emotions with bravado, others suppress a righteous rage. Trust builds, and deep-seated emotions and hidden fears finally come out. As they share and listen, they find the courage to open up, revealing strikingly similar stories of growing up around domestic violence and facing punishment from a young age. Their experiences paint a harsh picture of broken systems and the societal pattern of criminalizing young women for their trauma. As they unpack layers of identity, the women grapple with accountability and shame: shame stemming from childhood, but compounded by a system that never put their behavior in context. With the group's support, they journey towards self-compassion, in a transformative process that stands testament to the power of collective healing and the brave and cathartic act of sharing your story in circle.
-
Director
-
Sophie Compton,
Daisy-May Hudson
-
Producer
-
Sophie Compton,
Polly Creed,
Alice Hughes,
Tarquin Ramsay
-
Screenwriter
-
Sophie Compton,
Daisy-May Hudson,
Stella Heath Keir
-
Production Co
-
Beehive Films,
Power Play Productions
-
Genre
-
Documentary
-
Original Language
-
English
-
Runtime
-
1h 26m
Continue with Google
>
