All the World's a Stage

A24

4.5/5 stars

It is incredibly difficult to make an inspiring story centered around America's prison industrial complex. While it is still an inhumane system that seems mostly concerned with oppression, recidivism, and some barbaric notion of "punishment," it was (or at least was supposed to be) a place of rehabilitation. And Greg Kwedar's Sing Sing proves that there is no better source for emotional catharsis and spiritual awakening than in the arts. His film is all the more invigorating in that it is based on a true story, and from that he crafts a beautiful film that is able to find hope and joy in a broken system.

The plot follows John "Divine G" Whitfield (Colman Domingo), a wrongfully incarcerated inmate of Sing Sing Prison who, along with several other inmates, creates a program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) — which, twice a year, puts on theatrical productions created and performed by the inmates. In creating this, he and others are able to reconnect with their humanity and discover talents they never knew they had.

Kwedar is clearly interested in realism with this film — shooting in natural lighting and with mostly handheld camerawork. He fills most of the cast with actual former members of RTA. The story itself is about the transformative power of creativity and how anyone in any situation can be an artist. It's a wonderful message and the play they create, a time-traveling comedy involving ancient Egyptians, pirates, gunslingers, gladiators, Hamlet, and Freddy Krueger is the ultimate statement of the power of creativity.

In a world where art is increasingly the domain of the privileged, this film is a special reminder that art can uplift those even in the most dire of situations. Sing Sing is currently playing in select theaters. You can find information about the next screenings at see.singsing.movie. 

Directed by Greg Kwedar // Written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley // Starring Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose, Paul Raci, David "Dap" Giraudy, Patrick "Preme" Griffin, Mosi Eagle, James "Big E" Williams, Sean Dino Johnson, and Jon Adrian "JJ" Velazquez // A24 // 106 minutes // Rated R