The Farm: Angola, USA

The Farm is easily the best documentary I have seen this year. It takes you on an inside look into the lives of six inmates at Angola State Prison. Ironically Angola was a slave plantation, it now is a maximum security prison. Not like other prison documentaries that I've seen. No preachiness.

Just Powerful unintrusive film making. Check this out. It's worth it.

Have your kids or students watch this. It's interesting and will provide lots of fodder for discussion about choices in life and their consequences, family, faith, and hope. As others have mentioned, the parole board hearing is of particular interest. You might find yourself shaking your head, as I did. By the way, there is no bad language--as compared to "Scared Straight" for example, so you needn't concern yourself with pre-screening. Outstanding job by filmmakers who stay in the background and let the characters be the story. If you're not familiar with Scared Straight and its sequel, be sure to check it out as well. Note: This is the prison depicted in Oliver Stone's "JFK," where Jim Garrison interviews hustler Willie O'Keefe (Kevin Bacon).

My husband and I thought this was very well done and found it very insightful into the life of a prisoner. I was so pleased that so many of these men are trying to better their lives and reach out to others. But, I have to say I was most troubled by Vincent Simmons........that he has been denied to a retrial based on what was presented at his parole hearing. For a woman to get up there and say 'they all look a like' shows she is ignorant & prejudice. He was the only man in the line up in handcuffs & a doctors says the girl was a virgin! OMG I could not believe it when they denied him a retrial. I can only pray that someone in a position to help this man also saw this because I know he was in my prayers. I work in a middle school dealing with kids in In School Suspension and they always say I didn't do it even when I know they did. I will jokingly say oh, yeah all the people in prison say they are innocent too! How sad to have this happen and you may really be innocent. All the men that were interviewed were all in my prayers last night.

I haven't seen this documentary yet, but the Bishop was freed in August of this year, and He spoke at my school today. His Story is Really inspirational! It was amazing to see what God did in his life during his 51 years and 4 1/2 months in Angola. He has only been out for like 8 weeks, but he already has a cell phone, it went off a few times during his speech! He seems totally cool though. It's amazing how God can change peoples lives so dramatically.

We heard about the Bishops time before he went to Angola, and then his time changing Angola, and then his few days after being freed. I Hope This Documentary lives up to what I heard today!

"The Farm" is an absolutely powerful look at the lives of inmates at Angola Prison. It is inspiring to see that some of these men haven't given up on life, in spite of parole denials and other obstacles. The movie belongs on the short list of recent documentaries that transcend the genre. Films like "Crumb" and "The Thin Blue Line" and "Four Little Girls". A must see. It is impossible to come away from this extraordinary film without being moved.