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      Lost for Life

      2013 1h 15m Documentary Crime Drama List
      Reviews 61% 50+ Ratings Audience Score Filmmaker Joshua Rofé talks to juveniles who are serving life sentences in prison and to their victims' families. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (4) Critics Reviews
      Ann Hornaday Washington Post Rofe does an excellent job balancing his obvious compassion for his subjects with constant reminders of what they did. Oct 13, 2014 Full Review Eric Kohn indieWire Rof pulls off a tricky balance. Aug 1, 2014 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Attempting to probe a sensitive and explosive issue, the filmmakers found it impossible to criticize or significantly withstand the current reactionary mood in official circles. Aug 13, 2020 Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Rof reintroduces a much needed human perspective to the debate. Rated: 4/5 Oct 13, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (12) audience reviews
      Audience Member This film focuses on youth offenders, who were given life sentences for the crimes they committed. The question is, should a persons entire life be determined by one act they committed as a teenager? Several of these people are interviewed and the overwhelming opinion is that most of them don't deserve to remain where they are, despite what they've done. In fact a new law is going to allow for lifers, convicted as teenagers, to have their case re-examined after a specific amount of time, based on the nature of the crime. Given the people interviewed in this film, it's easy to say they deserve a second chance. Who doesn't feel for a kid, who was with a crazy friend at the wrong time, and convicted of felony murder, just for being there? Who doesn't feel that a fifteen year old, who killed his sexual abusive parents, twenty years ago, shouldn't be released? It's easy to feel this way when presented with these types of offenders, but what about the people they didn't interview? The kids who brutally kill, just to see what it feels like or the kid who goes into school and shoots a dozen people because he's been bullied, do they deserve a second chance at freedom? I don't argue with the fact that a persons development isn't fully complete by the time they are a teenagers. I also don't argue that this lack of maturity leads to their stupid decisions. In some rare cases, these cases should be re-examined. However, when someone is so broken, that they kill for fun and without remorse, even at a young age, they are broken, and until we knows for certain how to fix them, they belong behind bars. What does everyone else think? Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member No easy answers for what to do with child criminals. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review greg r Remarkable documentary on teen killers and life sentencing at an early age Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Moving and disturbing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member torey adamcik's family are clueless and they are blinded by something that will eventually harm Torey. They don't want to accept that his son is GUILTY and that he is a MURDERER. Yes, I agree that Life Without Parole should not be given to a juvenile. I believe that teenagers have the right for a second chance regardless of their crime. It seems as though, Brian has learned a lot more than what Torey has. One the most important- maybe the most interesting part of the whole documentary was when the lady started talking about her 3yr old son that was killed by a teenager. Anger is part of Grief and im glad she was able to identify that! The other lady that is against teenagers being release from prison hasn't been throughout this part of grief yet. Jacob is weird. I think he relieves the crime every time he closes his eyes. Josiah is the perfect example of how the environment you live in could affect your decision. He needs help. I think he needs a lot of professional help even before trying to appeal his case. Can something be done with Brian stuttering? It was bothering me throughout the whole documentary! Sean was inspirational! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Classic American dilemma: "how to handle our teenage murderers". So it may be an odd subject, but the answer is not always obvious, or easy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Lost for Life

      Lost for Life (2013) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Filmmaker Joshua Rofé talks to juveniles who are serving life sentences in prison and to their victims' families.
      Director
      Joshua Rofé
      Producer
      Scott Budnick, Ari Silber
      Screenwriter
      Joshua Rofé
      Genre
      Documentary, Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Dec 5, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 15m
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