The Prison in Twelve Landscapes

Currently, the United States holds more prisoners than any other period or location in history, yet the concept of prison seems more distant and obscured than ever. This film explores the idea of incarceration without ever showing a physical prison. It takes viewers on a visual journey through various American landscapes where prisons have a tangible impact on communities. From a small park in Los Angeles designed to exclude sex offenders, to a group of former inmates playing chess who are barred from traditional employment, to a coal town in Appalachia pinning its hopes on the economic opportunities promised by prison jobs, the film examines the pervasive influence of the prison system.