Garnering widespread acclaim and superb reception among critics, Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing opened in 2023 before getting picked up for distribution by A24. The drama carries a slight documentary style feel as it tells the story of incarcerated men at Sing Sing prison and their transformative experience with the rehabilitation through the arts (RTA) program.
As the movie opens, we are introduced to Colman Domingo’s protagonist, Divine G. He stands, commanding center stage, as he recites a monologue from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, sending piercing echoes throughout the theater with each beautifully written, powerfully delivered line. Soon the play’s cast accompanies him in the spotlight, bowing to thunderous applause. This scene is quickly followed by one where the same actors who just elegantly appeared on stage are now lined up by prison guards and escorted back to their cells. The film thrives in showcasing the contrast between human sophistication, and the cold, sterile nature of prison. Shot onsite at Sing Sing correctional facility the movie never lets the viewer forget the desolate reality of the setting.
The characters are charismatic, complex, and deeply engaging. Their quickly-established yet distinct personalities can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the cast of prisoners, outside of Colman Domingo, is made up of former RTA members playing themselves. With so much firsthand experience involved in the filmmaking process, the men are able to authentically portray the perspective of being imprisoned with such subtlety. For instance, when talking about the genre of their next play, Divine G quips “dying is easy. Comedy is hard,” a line that reveals his acquired comfortability with violence in prison.
The themes in this film are not novel, but they are so authentically displayed that they carry monumental weight. The effects of hope are beautifully captured in Colman Domingo’s acting performance. Despite enduring a false imprisonment and years of incarceration, his breaking point only comes when he loses hope. In a system designed to break people down, hope is shown throughout the film to be one of the few tools that can build them back up.
Another one of those tools is relationships. The men in prison are seen as being written off by society, so when someone expresses genuine care towards them, it has the power to completely transform their outlook on life. The film beautifully captures the brotherhood of the men in the RTA program, highlighted by the bond between Divine G and Divine Eye. The change in each of their lives due to their friendship is documented throughout the film. Divine Eye’s development is convincing due to his impressive acting performance. His characterization is grounded in raw emotion, capturing the resilience, stoicism, and reserved emotional nature of someone trapped in the system.
Finally, the film touches on the idea of healing through the arts. Men who at one point gave up on their lives are able to find a place where they can be themselves and entertain others. They find ways to connect to the plays they are depicting and are able to learn about themselves in the process. In the face of being stuck in such a bleak environment, the men find peace, optimism, and brotherhood through art in the RTA program. They are able to open up to each other, gain perspective on life, and most importantly, enjoy their time with people they care about. There is so much joy and laughter during rehearsals, as the men come together not as inmates, but as friends.
It’s easy to tell that the filmmakers worked very closely with individuals who lived through the RTA program. The film’s endearing nature and authenticity shines through at every passing moment. Colman Domingo delivers an expressive performance riddled with enduring messages about hope and brotherhood. Clarence, “Divine Eye”, Maclin plays a younger version of himself to portray change in an impressively vulnerable manner. The film has so much to say, and somehow delivers it all, along with a great story in less than two hours.
8/10
