Call and Response

It took Kaori Sakagami six years to receive permission for shooting her documentary in a Japanese prison. In a unique project, a limited number of inmates can participate in a therapeutic circle in order to understand the mental and social conditions of their behavior. Even after being released from prison, former inmates are supported by psychologists and social workers. What is remarkable in the process: the inmates learn to support each other and to open up toward the experiences of others.

In the United States, where the prison population exceeds three million, there are more than 100,000 lifers—inmates serving life sentences or indeterminate terms. Having committed serious crimes such as murder and armed robbery, they are often labeled “beyond rehabilitation” and largely forgotten by society. This documentary follows lifers participating in the AMITY rehabilitation program, examining the role they play in helping other inmates reform and rebuild their lives.