Customer Reviews

The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This outstanding look at the prison system was voted Best Documentary of 1998 by the three major critics groups, and it's easy to see why. You simply cannot walk away from "The Farm" without being touched by it. Originally produced for the A&E cable network, "The Farm" went on to deservedly bigger and better things. It belongs in the company of "Paradise Lost...", "Crumb", "The Thin Blue Line", Spike Lee's "4 Little Girls" and "Hoop Dreams" among other recent greats in nonfiction cinema.

This is simply a great film. I was touched by the film's balanced depiction of both the prison staff and the inmates. I especially enjoyed the in-depth interviews with several men serving time in Angola. Deep social questions are raised that are difficult. I think this film can help stimulate a helpful discussion of how to handle crime in our country. There has to be a better way than Angola.

The Farm is an honest, revealing look at life inside one of America's most notorious prisons. It is also a very stark look at some of the shortcomings of the American justice system (ex. Vincent Simmons). I show this documentary in my high school government classes to spark discussion on the justice system. My students are moved as am I. It should be required viewing for all law enforcement and judicial system employees. A must see!!!

This film is free of Hollywood glamour, and you love it for just that reason. It's a great documentary, and definitely worth the price. About 15 minutes into the film you get that weird sensation in your throat, and have trouble swallowing. Everything becomes clear, from now on you'll be a preacher boy just to keep clear of Angola, and anything that could resemble it.

The Farm is easily the best documentary I have seen this year. It takes you on an inside look into the lives of six inmates at Angola State Prison. Ironically Angola was a slave plantation, it now is a maximum security prison. Not like other prison documentaries that I've seen. No preachiness. Just Powerful unintrusive film making. Check this out. It's worth it.

If you believe in the death penalty, watch this film.

I saw this film a few years ago and it permanently changed my view on the prison systems in the U.S. Highly recommended viewing.

It is annoying how such an important film is so rare and high priced.

I'd also recommend "Crime control as industry: Towards gulags" for further understanding of some of the statistical data and financial mechanics that fuel the corrupt prison systems in the U.S. and elsewhere.

This is one of the best prison documentaries I've seen: thought-provoking, real, and upsetting. I was relieved to learn that one prisoner, so obviously falsely-accused and revictimized by a racist parole panel for 20+ years, was later released after a public outcry when this documentary first aired. I have a homemade VHS of this program and would like to replace it but am not willing to pay $40 + shipping for another VHS. Wish it would come out on DVD.

It is no wonder this film took the 1998 Best Film documentary by the National Society of Film Critics,Association, and Oscar- nominated for Best Documentary. The Farm is the incredible and heart wrenching story of six inmates at Americas most infamous Prison...Angola, a former slave plantation spreading across 12,000 acres of Louisiana farmland. Do not miss this movie.......you'll have a greater understanding oif how the system works and a sence of darkness of some lifes, and how the heart can cry out. Once you start watching, you won't want to be disturbed. 5***** all the way. Very touching!

This documentary was screened in Australia approximately six months ago, and moved me so much that I have been trying to find a copy of the video ever since. I also intend to write to each of the prisoners who appeared in the film, but confess (with some shame) that I haven't yet gotten around to it.

This film says a lot about the Louisiana 'justice' system (which I obviously have many reservations about), but much more than that, it is also a story about the human spirit. The six men who bravely bare their souls to the film makers are people from whom we can all learn something. Please watch it, you won't be able to stop talking about it (and thinking about it) for a very long time. I know that I've discussed this film at pretty much every dinner party I've been to since I saw it.

*Add 1/2 of a star to my rating*

I rank this film up there with my other favorite documentaries such as the "Up" documentaries and Bud Greenspan's Olympic documentaries. The film shows that racism is alive and well in our "justice" system. I was particularly moved by the man who says he was falsely charged with rape and the parole board refuses to hear exculpatory evidence about his case. This film will stick with you for a very long time. It's a shame that consevatives who believe that prison is a joke filled with luxuries ignore films like this.

As a muslim, I wish they had shown the presence of Islam at Angola, for that reason I gave the film 4 1/2 stars.