“Art heals” is a cliche at this point, but if you want a rich example of how that aphorism is true, look no further than prison rehabilitation programs. And if you want an example of that, Sing Sing is a delicate yet gut-punching film about inmates participating in a theater program. We mainly follow Divine G, a seasoned thespian who truly believes that art heals, and Divine Eyes, a newcomer who is skeptical about the idea of it. Their relationship starts rocky—as Divine Eyes says, theater “doesn’t change the fact that [he’s] a gangster”—but they eventually help each other both in the play and their personal lives. Through their real-life stories, we learn about wrongful convictions, as well as the dehumanizing treatment and suffocating negligence inmates go through. But unlike most prison films, there’s a softness to Sing Sing that’s partly caused by the use of a 16mm camera and natural lighting (the facility is surprisingly open, with large glass windows reminding inmates, painfully, of what they’re missing out on) and by the film’s willingness to show characters in their most vulnerable state. Without sacrificing veracity, they open up about their feelings, hopes, and dreams, chucking preconceived notions of masculine toughness. It’s fascinating too how the film can elicit such powerful emotions without resorting to melodrama. A simple look from Divine G’s eyes is enough to devastate you. Whether art can fix a person is debatable, but Sing Sing proves it’s a question worth exploring for a lifetime.
"Having pared away nearly every detail that doesn’t advance the plot, Kwedar and Bentley rely heavily on their lead actors to fill the ensuing breach. In this, at least, their instincts are sure."
— Justin Chang
"In a story about art’s transformative potential, it’s the wondrous slow bloom of their bond that most distils Sing Sing’s poignant power."
— Isaac Feldberg
Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
In the notorious maximum security prison Sing Sing, a handful of inmates participate in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, which stages a play every six months. There, unspoken leader Divine G (Colman Domingo) strikes a friendship with newcomer Clarence Maclin (who plays himself).
The real crime here is snubbing Clarence Maclin for the major acting awards. Also, the parole scene will also have you bawling in no time.
Don’t let the playfulness fool you, this is a solid tearjerker. Prepare the tissues.
