The Rehabilitation Through the Arts Program, initiated in 1996 at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York, is a testament to the transformative power of art. It provides inmates with a platform to express themselves through various art forms, including theater productions, music, dance, visual arts, writing, and poetry. The healing power of art is profound, as many artists can attest. Author Nikki Rowe beautifully captures this sentiment, stating, “Art is my cure to all this madness, sadness, and loss of belonging in the world, and through it, I’ll walk myself home.”
This sentiment is particularly relevant to prisoners striving to better their lives and reintegrate into society. Writer/director Greg Kwedar and his co-writers draw inspiration from the real experiences of Sing Sing inmates who have participated in the RTA program. Their goal is to provide genuine insight into the RTA experience and how it can positively transform the lives of individuals who were once on the wrong side of the law.
Colman Domingo stars as John “Divine G” Whitfield, a prisoner of the Sing Sing prison and the de facto inmate leader of the RTA theater program. Having written, directed, and starred in various RTA productions, the other inmates in the program respect Divine G’s talent and wisdom. The film follows the creative process of one particular RTA production, as G and the others must also deal with the harsh realities of living in prison.
As my headline boldly proclaims, Sing Sing is, without a doubt, the best movie I’ve seen this year. The writing, direction, and the performances of the actors are all exceptional. The film beautifully captures the exhilarating highs of creating art, along with the struggles and challenges faced by inmates within the prison system. Screenwriters Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar based their script on the true experiences of former inmates Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and John “Divine G” Whitfield, both of whom participated in the RTA theater program.
In fact the real Clarence Maclin portrays himself in the film. Several former Sing Sing RTA program inmates also star as themselves in the movie. I must say that they indeed hold their own, along with the tremendous talents of film actors Colman Domingo, Sean San José, and Paul Raci. Maclin has a good chance of scoring supporting actor nominations during the awards season. However, the real star, the MVP of the film, is most definitely Colman Domingo.
I will be devastated if Domingo does not receive a single acting nomination for his tremendous performance as Divine G. Colman gives a leading turn that is one for the ages. As this character is passionate about acting, Colman brings one hundred percent of his passion for the craft to this role–blood, sweat, tears, fears, glee, and despair. Finding someone more deserving of my choice for Best Actor of 2024 will be a tremendous challenge.
The same goes for finding another film that will win my heart, like Sing Sing. While it is a rollercoaster of emotions, it is one beautiful ride. I not only highly recommend that people spend top dollar to watch it in the theater, but I also encourage them to watch it multiple times and share its beauty and warmth with as many people as they can. The film is a vital reminder that prison inmates are real humans and that it is never too late for them to start life anew.