Watch The Prison in Twelve Landscapes

The Prison in Twelve Landscapes is a compelling and thought-provoking documentary that explores the vast and far-reaching impact of the prison system on the lives of everyday people in America. Directed by Brett Story, the film takes viewers on a journey through twelve different locations across the United States, where we meet a diverse cast of characters and hear their personal stories of how the prison system has affected them and their communities.

One of the central themes of the film is the way in which prisons have become a ubiquitous presence in American society, seeping into all corners of daily life. From a small town in Kentucky where prisons are the biggest employer, to a strip mall in California where ex-convicts start new businesses, the film shows how the prison system has come to shape the economic, social, and cultural fabric of the country.

At the heart of The Prison in Twelve Landscapes is a deep empathy for the people who have been impacted by the prison system. Instead of focusing solely on statistics or policy proposals, the film gives voice to those who have been directly affected by the system – from families who struggle to stay connected with loved ones inside, to ex-convicts who face barriers to employment and housing long after their release.

One particularly poignant sequence in the film follows a group of formerly incarcerated men in Baltimore who have formed a gardening collective as a way to heal from the trauma of prison. As they tend to their plants and share their stories with each other, we see the power of community and connection in helping to overcome the isolation and despair that so often follows a prison sentence.

Throughout the film, we are introduced to a wide variety of perspectives on the prison system, from activists and journalists to small business owners and local politicians. This wide-ranging approach allows us to see the issue from many different angles, and to understand the complex web of factors that contribute to mass incarceration in America.

Despite the seriousness of its subject matter, The Prison in Twelve Landscapes is never heavy-handed or didactic. Instead, it is a visually stunning and poetic meditation on the way in which the prison system intersects with our lives in ways we may not even realize.

One of the most striking things about the film is the way in which it captures the beauty and resilience of everyday people in the face of profound injustice. From a Native American community in Alaska fighting to keep their youth out of prison, to a group of ex-convicts in Chicago organizing to support each other, the film is full of moments of grace and hope amidst the darkness.

Overall, The Prison in Twelve Landscapes is a powerful and urgent film that deserves to be seen by anyone who cares about issues of social justice and inequality in America. By shining a light on the far-reaching effects of the prison system, it challenges us to think more deeply about our own complicity in perpetuating a system that destroys so many lives.

The Prison in Twelve Landscapes is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 86.