Sunday, May 11, 2014

Herman's House 2012


Herman's House


     Jackie Sumell is a visual artist and she hears about Herman Wallace.  He’s been in solitary confinement in Angola for nearly 40 years. Herman was sent to prison for bank robbery when he was 25.  A corrections officer was murdered in 1972 and Herman was convicted based on the testimony of other inmates.  His living space is 6 feet by 9 feet and that is his life.  Jackie makes a model of his space to show how he lives.  She visits him and talks to him on the phone.  They start a project for him to plan Herman’s House.  She will have architects design the project and she will look for property to build the house.  The main reason for this project is to focus on the 80,000 prisoners kept in solitary confinement and how it defines them mentally and physically.
     Herman is never shown and his living space is not shown.  I had a hard time keeping interested in this film.  I think the efforts are worthwhile to spotlight the treatment of these prisoners.  I cannot imagine treatment without bias by the guards for anyone convicted of killing one of their own even if they may not be guilty.   3* (This film is OK)

80 min, Doc directed by Angad Bhalla with Jackie Sumell, Victory Wallace, Michael Musser, Anita Young, Melissa Farling, Frank Green. 

Note:  Imdb 6.2 out of 10, 88% critic 76% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.5 out of 5 with 2 reviewers.







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