What I learned from a Maximum Security Prisoner

As you might know, Pete and I love going to movies – especially in Amsterdam where we have several movie theaters within a 7 minute bike ride.

And in Parkano there is an old renovated movie theater Sirius – I find it very charming (unfortunately at times we are the only people in the whole 200-seat theater)

So the topic of the day: a movie which touched me deeply.

What I learned from a maximum security prisoner is several.

Hope.
There is hope even in dire circumstances – being imprisoned for decades is of course one of the most challenging ones.

The importance of human connections.
How we treat others, how we listen, how we look at them, how we support them.
That all matters so much.
How someone is willing to see and hear us.

And when we give we can also receive.
Taking joy from others being happy and succeeding.
Taking pride in being able to see and take action beyond ourselves.

In this movie there are friendships among inmates, the main character Divine G starting a Theater group, opening up to another inmate Mike Mike, helping others in their parole hearings and offering techniques to a new actor in the group Divine Eye to learn his lines.

Treating others as we want to be treated.
(I am not religious and I do think there are some very important points in the bible and other religious texts and traditions)

Having someone supporting us and believing in us can make a huge difference.

And sometimes having just one meaningful thing in our life can make life so much better and hardships far more bearable.
Like the Theater group in this movie, and seeing the river and green.
What is the thing that brings you the most joy?
(For me it is Pete and my son Niilo – and my work with groups for sure)

The main character John Divine G” Whitfield in the movie Sing Sing is the main force keeping a theater group going in the Maximum Security Prison Sing Sing north of New York city.

Sing Sing is based on a true story, a theater project Rehabilitation Through The Arts, RTA, was established in 1996 and is currently operational in ten facilities. There are also statistics suggesting that inmates participating in the program did a lot better than their counterparts. According to one statistics only 3% returned to jail compared to 60% of average inmates in the facility.
(I was inspired by this work and donated money for RTA and also Inner Circle Foundation which the Work documentary covers)

I also like a lot that quite a few people actually played themselves in the movies – the former inmates who participated in the RTA scheme. One memorable person being Divine Eye.

Sing Sing reminds me of a beautiful documentary also from a prison The Work which is about emotional work in prisons, powerful group therapy for men. It is an American documentary film following three civilians on a four-day group therapy retreat with men who are incarcerated at Folsom State Prison from 2017.

How men – inmates – can process and move through pain, soliness and losses in a new way. Less violent, more present. Crying, shouting, even raging while not hurting anyone, talking, sharing and being held by other men.
Quite a bit like we do in workshops and retreats.

More about movies…

Last week we went to see three movies!
I also very much also Hard Truths by Mike Leigh – I like his movies since Secrets and Lies from 1996 – the same actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste is in one of the lead roles in both movies.
I judge he captures well the struggles of common people and the importance and beauty of human connections.

Maybe I will write about that one too!
In the meantime I recommend all these movies: Sing Sing, The Work, Deep Truths and Secrets and Lies.
(we also saw a very peculiar Czech film called Daisies from 1966. If you like unusual and experimental films that can be your pick!)

What movie do you recommend?
What movie especially touched you recently?

Please tell me in an email!
(Just hit reply to this newsletter)
And maybe share also a few words about how you find that movie touching or important.

I am thinking maybe I will collect a list of movies which have touched people in our community.
Would you like to receive that?

I wish you a great week!
A week with books, movies and outdoors and maybe less computer screen and phone scrolling!

Love,
Tuulia (& Pete) ❤️