★ 9 / 10
This is a must-watch documentary that depicts the
Abstractals
This is a must-watch documentary that depicts the profound, hidden wounds that repressed pain, guilt and grief can carve into the hearts of men. And, in doing…
This is a must-watch documentary that depicts the profound, hidden wounds that repressed pain, guilt and grief can carve into the hearts of men. And, in doing, this film illustrates some seriously scary realities. How men construct an impenetrable facade to guard their pain and vulnerability from others (and from themselves). How powerful, murderous impulses can hide in the most unassuming of people. And, most of all, how difficult and exhausting it can be, fighting to reclaim your authentic self from a life of pain- and shame-fueled aggression.
A couple times a year, for a period of four days, non-incarcerated individuals are permitted to attend a group therapy retreat inside maximum-security Folsom State Prison to attempt to work on their own emotional baggage while sharing the experience with a few dozen inmates who are also wrestling with their own issues.
Make no mistake; this is some intense, raw stuff. There are few creative camera setups, and much of the filming is reactive and very fly-on-the-wall. There’s a reason that *cinema verité* translates to “truthful cinema”, and the therapeutic nature of **’The Work’** may be as true as it gets. This authenticity also bolsters the sort of cinematic honesty at work here, too. It’s all filmed in a very seat-of-the-pants manner. When two lapel-mics get muffled in an emotional bear-hug between two inmates, and their spoken words are drowned out by a booming heartbeat, it seems more than just serendipity -- in fact, this accidental foley work is more germane than any dialogue could have been.
There was one scene in particular -- and you’ll know it when you see it -- that I suspect could have *only* happened in this unique prison therapy scenario. So homicidal and arrogant was Brian’s rage that it may have been dangerous to drag his inadequacy into the light without his first being restrained by a dozen burly ‘bad dudes’. And, remember, **Brian is not one of the Folsom Prison convicts**; he’s just an ordinary teacher’s assistant who signed up for this unique form of group therapy, probably because he saw it as a challenge.
Why is this film a must-watch? Because it’s a reminder that -- no matter where we are, or what we may have become -- we all have the capacity to change for the better. But only if we remain willing to put in the work.
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★ 9 / 10
Excellent Documentary
waynezorro
One of the most impressive aspects of this beautifully photographed, riveting documentary is the way the filmmakers catch the generosity of the prisoners who…
One of the most impressive aspects of this beautifully photographed, riveting documentary is the way the filmmakers catch the generosity of the prisoners who give their all to help the non prisoners and fellow inmates. The organizers of The Work and the participants deserve a lot of credit. I don't know of a single man, including my male patients who couldn't benefit from this four day event. Hopefully, women who watch this will understand some of the internal pain that most men carry.
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★ 7 / 10
Group therapy at maximum security prison appears to effectively combat inmate recidivism
Turfseer
Directed by Jairus McLeary and Gerthin Aldous, The Work takes us inside California's maximum security Folsom prison to observe a four day extremely intense…
Directed by Jairus McLeary and Gerthin Aldous, The Work takes us inside California's maximum security Folsom prison to observe a four day extremely intense group therapy session consisting of both inmates and civilians brought in to participate from the ordinary (non-criminal) world.
The documentary begins with these ordinary Joes on the bus driving to the facility and expressing their anxiety about going inside a maximum security prison and having to interact with hardened criminals. Once they enter the room where the therapy sessions take place, they're each quickly paired off with an inmate partner whom they're encouraged to get to know before the actual therapy begins.
The therapy itself often involves each man sharing accounts of a difficult relationship or traumatic event that leads to the blocking off of emotional feelings. In some cases the inmates become agitated and are held down by members of the group until they break down in tears. Other times, the mere recounting of a traumatic event leads to an emotional response-usually crying or in some cases, deeper sobbing.
In one telling moment, one of the non-inmate participants honestly tells one of the inmates that he is unable to connect with his tale of being abandoned by a rejecting father. The inmate interprets this confession of emotional detachment as a belittlement of his particular situation and lashes out at the man calling him a "bitch" and almost ready to physically attack him.
Many of these cathartic moments are difficult to watch as the average viewer may not be used to outpourings of such raw emotion. At the conclusion of The Work, we're informed that every inmate who went through the therapy sessions and was later released from prison, has not returned. That certainly is impressive!
Nonetheless, one wonders if the therapy over such a short time period is effective in resolving past traumatic events. One clue that leads to skepticism is the nature of the emoting depicted. In every case, the crying (or sobbing) often seems blocked-as if the men are unable to break through into a deeper level of emotional release. This is understandable given taboos in our society for men to express their feelings.
Instead of simply employing a confessional model to evoke emotions, there are other techniques involving physical exercises that can facilitate even deeper release from what the famed psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich referred to as "body armoring." An updated version of Reichian therapy, Bioenergetics, developed by Dr. Alexander Lowen, certainly could be put to good use in therapeutic settings such as this.
The bottom line is any technique to uncover repressed emotions, including group therapy sessions with hardened criminals, should be viewed as something positive. Given reports of zero recidivism, this is a program that apparently "works."
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