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.
Review
Incarceration is meant to be rehabilitative, and stories of inmates finding resources to do just that are often compelling, as this film shows.
The movie is set at the real correctional facility Sing Sing in New York state, and centers on the prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts program. The RTA allows inmates to participate in a theater group where they’re able to put on various stage plays throughout the year.
John “Divine G” Whitfield (Colman Domingo), is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, but has dedicated himself to working in the program as both an actor and writer. The film picks up with him and other inmates preparing to take on something new in the form of a comedy play, rather than a drama.
“Sing Sing” has a rawness that few other films contain, largely thanks to its cast. Many of the characters are played by actual former inmates of Sing Sing who were themselves in the RTA. It makes the lived experience of these characters and the emotions they express feel entirely convincing.
There are times where we as the audience observe the group’s theater exercises and it can come across more like a documentary in how pure it is. It’s in these moments where we can see the characters’ struggle, resiliency and healing, all of it making for effective cinema.
It’s in these moments where the movie is really at its best. There’s a great deal of sincerity in the interactions and their passion for the production. It’s clear that the art form is having a profound impact on their lives, giving them an outlet for creativity and escapism as they serve their sentence.
