Sing Sing
Colman Domingo stars in this radiating drama about pain of convicts expressed through the arts.
Sing Sing enters the true story of a group of prison inmates’ part of the RTA (Rehabilitation Through the Arts) program who put on theatre productions to express themselves and build an honest and reform through the arts. The group is led by the committed and loyal John "Divine G" Whitfield (Colman Domingo) who puts his time into his writing and acting, as well as key anchor for the rest of the group welcoming the latest to join the programme which is Devine Eye ( Clarence Maclin) who is used to dealing drugs but after a copy of King Lear fell on his lap decides to exercise his acting. He encourages that the group’s next production should be a comedy consisting of Egyptians, Pirates, Cowboys, and a bit of Hamlet. A loving friendship forms between Devine and John, as they open to each other over their pains and hopes during their incarceration.
Colman Domingo leads this drama with a confident and kind charisma passionate about the theatre and bringing the best out of this community, while he personally battles with the shared reality of their captivity and the longing for freedom. Around Domingo are some of the most rich and loving performances from the lived in lives of the group including an exceptional performance from Clarence Maclin, who is the newcomer to the group that learns to open himself up to the process to really recognise who he is. Each member of the cast get a chance to shine as the drama playfully flows through auditions, rehearsals and workshops for each inmate to get a moment of show off their talent. We also get another wise and kind therapeutic supporting performance from Paul Raci who drives many of fun laughs and banter of the group.
Sing Sing glows with tactile glow and grainy look from 16mm film, with tight personal close ups to maximise the full human beings behind the bars, isolated by shinning with light as they grow to support and love each other and hope for their eventual freedom to society. Greg Kwedar directs with a delicacy like there is no director in the room, and rests the film on the shoulders of the men’s fellowship together with reality of most of inmates playing version of themselves brings a genuine human authenticity and magic that is rare to see, and becomes a testament to the power of art and fellowship being the stronger path of redemption.
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