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      Shakespeare Behind Bars

      Released Jan 18, 2005 1h 32m Documentary List
      93% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 84% Audience Score 500+ Ratings In this documentary, a theater troupe consisting entirely of convicted felons performs the plays of William Shakespeare for a captive audience. The troupe is already in its seventh year when the film crew joins them as they attempt to put on "The Tempest," a play largely about the dangers of social isolation. In candid interviews, the film chronicles the project from its casting, through its rehearsals and finally to its performance at the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in Kentucky. Read More Read Less
      Shakespeare Behind Bars

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      Critics Consensus

      Shakespeare Behind Bars is a moving testament to the power -- and universality -- of art.

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      Critics Reviews

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      J. R. Jones Chicago Reader This fascinating video documentary covers a nine-month rehearsal of Shakespeare's final play by inmates at the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in La Grange, Kentucky. Aug 12, 2008 Full Review Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor The up-close interviews with the prisoners, many of whom are in jail for murder, are the heart of the film. Rated: B May 19, 2006 Full Review Kevin Crust Los Angeles Times Rogerson and producer Jilann Spitzmiller ably convey the humanity of the inmates while also exposing them as deeply flawed individuals. The film also reconfirms the enduring relevance and power of Shakespeare and his adaptability to almost any milieu. Rated: 3.5/5 May 12, 2006 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Confronts, with grace, the notion of anyone being beyond redemption. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 22, 2020 Full Review Felix Gonzalez Jr. DVD Review ... a truly compelling examination of the extent to which art can lift the human spirit, no matter how tragic the surrounding circumstances may be. Jul 10, 2007 Full Review David Noh Film Journal International It's a tribute to the dry-eyed empathy of the filmmakers that these men, guilty of the most heinous crimes of murder and violence, somehow manage to win your sympathy. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member You know I have never been in to Shakespeare, I would rather watch something else Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/18 Full Review Audience Member This is an honestly very good documentary, and a compelling story. The filmmakers followed around a group of inmates in a Kentucky prison as they prepared for a performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The result is both an engrossing and compassionate look at the lives of some tough criminals (including murderers and child molesters), and a unique testament to the universality of Shakespeare. The film was made over about a year, and so we get to see the ongoing dramas of the prisoners' lives, as well as their preparation process. Their stories are varied and interesting, and it's surprising how emotionally involved you get - everyone in the class I watched the film with really wanted to know what became of the various prisoners after the film was over. The filmmakers smartly do not foreground their own presence at all, so we feel a direct connection to the prisoners' lives. The film does make a strong case that everybody can benefit from and somehow relate to Shakespeare. For instance, there is the story of one inmate, a black African-American male, who seemed to really find himself identifying with the role of Miranda, the dispossessed heiress of an Italian dukedom in the play. All of the actors seem to genuinely care about the play in a way you sense they may not have cared about things in their previous lives. This could have seemed manipulated and artificial, but it's an indication of the film's skill that it feels very convincing. The idea of this film may sound strange to you, but I promise, it is worth watching. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a must-see documentary which demonstrates the basic point that inmates are human beings like th rest of us... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review frederick m Documentary about prisoners in a medium security Kentucky prison performing Shakespeare's plays. In its sixth year the men performed The Tempest. The performers are interesting as they try to use the play to reform their own lives. The play itself was chosen by the volunteer director as many of the prisoners parole was coming up and the play has a theme of redemption. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member artful, inspiring but i had empathy fatigue by the end of it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member I viewed this on Netflix Instant Watch- halfway through I jumped on Amazon and bought it. It touches two nerves for me- the value of Shakespeare and the value of a human being. This is what art is supposed to be about- transcendence and transmutation. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis In this documentary, a theater troupe consisting entirely of convicted felons performs the plays of William Shakespeare for a captive audience. The troupe is already in its seventh year when the film crew joins them as they attempt to put on "The Tempest," a play largely about the dangers of social isolation. In candid interviews, the film chronicles the project from its casting, through its rehearsals and finally to its performance at the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in Kentucky.
      Director
      Hank Rogerson, Jilann Spitzmiller
      Producer
      Sally Jo Fifer, Nick Fraser
      Screenwriter
      Hank Rogerson, Jilann Spitzmiller
      Production Co
      Philomath Films
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 18, 2005, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 30, 2017
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $48.2K
      Runtime
      1h 32m