‘The Alabama Solution’ secretly captures the brutal conditions inside a penal system declared unconstitutional

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As a real cinema lover, I don’t often encounter a film that hits quite as hard as “The Alabama Solution”. This documentary, from Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, is truly devastating. It’s a stark look at the prison system, and honestly, it feels like a message sent straight from a nightmare. Specifically, it exposes the conditions in Alabama’s 14 penitentiaries, which, frankly, feel like a continuation of slavery – an unchecked and horrifying reality. It’s one of those films that really pierces your conscience and stays with you long after the credits roll.

The filmmakers weren’t allowed to film the harsh realities inside the state’s most infamous prison system-things like extreme overcrowding, too few staff, abuse, deaths, and untreated substance abuse. (One prisoner pointed out that it’s actually *easier* for a reporter to enter a war zone.) In 2019, after getting permission to film what seemed like a normal outdoor barbecue at an Alabama prison, Jarecki and Kaufman connected with a hidden group of inmate activists. These inmates were secretly using smuggled cellphones to document their lives, risking their safety to do so.

“The Alabama Solution” stands out because it centers on the prisoners’ own words and experiences, making it a truly collaborative effort between those on the inside and outside. This investigation was conducted independently, away from the control of a closed-off administration. The film relies on raw, sometimes difficult-to-watch footage captured on smuggled phones – showing violence, blood, unsanitary conditions, and the aftermath of incidents that go unreported – along with powerful interviews with long-term inmates like Melvin Ray and Robert Earl Council (also known as “Kinetik Justice”). Despite being consistently targeted by guards, these remarkable individuals have remained committed to peaceful change, and are impressively self-taught in matters of the law.

The state’s prison system has been deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. government, which asked Alabama to make significant changes in 2020. However, the response was harsh treatment of inmates and a lack of concern from state leaders. The title is sadly ironic, alluding to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s absurd plan to avoid a federal takeover: constructing more prisons (and enriching contractors). As we discover, since the lawsuit began, a thousand people have died while in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections. (The term “corrections” feels like another cruel joke.)

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Filmmakers Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman joined us at our studio in Park City to talk about their impressive investigative documentary.

This documentary reveals the truth behind disturbing events, focusing on a particularly shocking case of abuse by those in charge. The filmmakers quickly learn about a brutal attack on an inmate by a corrections officer – information they use to notify the inmate’s family and immediately go to the hospital to investigate. What unfolds next – from hidden photographs to conversations with lawyers and attempts to reach those in power – is a complex journey filled with attempts to hide the truth, scare people into silence, and outright corruption. It proves that the problems within Alabama’s prison system aren’t limited to the inmates themselves; they also affect a family desperately seeking answers about what appears to be a murder.

We’re also witnessing a unified pushback: a statewide prisoner strike in 2022 aimed at exposing what can only be described as modern slavery – a system built on free labor. Some of the film’s most touching scenes are videos of the incarcerated men holding hands and singing together. It’s hard to understand how a prison system that’s meant to rehabilitate people could reject that kind of positive spirit, instead choosing to crush, exploit, and then cover up its actions by erasing evidence.

This film, skillfully woven together for a powerful effect, also makes a case for the importance of investigating things independently, and for rethinking what a “true crime” documentary should be. So much focus often goes to shocking, heavily-reported stories that are easy to consume on streaming services. Created over several years, “The Alabama Solution” offers crucial reporting on a significant human rights problem that isn’t limited to just one state’s harsh actions. It aims to encourage us to feel empathy for a neglected group of people who risk everything for more than just staying alive.

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2025-10-03 13:31