As America sinks deeper into a fascist theocracy, it’s worth frequently pointing out how little our government seems to care about anything that can be found in the Bible. From Hebrews 13:3 to Matthew 25:39-40, the Good Book is pretty clear regarding how we should treat our incarcerated. Prisons are supposed to be about rehabilitation, not the contemporary idea of using the criminal justice system to exploit the labor class. 

The film Sing Sing is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at the eponymous correctional facility in upstate New York. The RTA is a non-profit that stages theatrical productions for inmates across ten facilities. Many former RTA alumni make up the cast of the film, playing fictionalized versions of themselves.

The narrative follows the production of a light-hearted time-traveling comedy. Divine G (Colman Domingo) recruits new member Divine Eye (Clarence Maclin, playing himself), who initially dismisses the therapeutic value of the troupe. Divine G, incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, struggles under the weight of his upcoming clemency hearing, as well as his desire to use the stage to work through his own demons.

Director Greg Kwedar uses a soft touch for much of the film’s 105-minute runtime. The plot is warm and uplifting, allowing the cast to shine through their fantastic chemistry with each other. Few films manage to make their audiences feel like they’re in the room with the performers, an inviting sense of flow to the narrative.

Domingo puts forth what might be the strongest performance of his career. The pain never quite leaves Divine G’s face, even as he spends the bulk of the film trying his best to help others. At one point early on, Divine G notes to Divine Eye that the RTA is all these people have, a reality of the bleak nature of incarcerated life, but there’s such a richness to their sense of community. Amidst all the darkness of life behind bars, the innate human need for connection shines through.

Prison films are not exactly known for their uplifting nature, which is perhaps Sing Sing’s crowning achievement. Our society fails the incarcerated at every level. While our government turns its back on its imprisoned except in times of exploitation, these men never gave up on each other. There is always light, even in the darkest hour. Anyone questioning the sheer power of the arts should look no further than this quietly powerful gem of a film.

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