| Description |
1 online resource (1 video file, approximately 73 min.) : flv file, sound |
| Summary |
Two-thirds of convicts released from prison return behind bars within three years. RELEASED presents the hopeful stories of four parolees who prove that the tide of recidivism can be reversed, if former prisoners are given the support they need to reenter society. The four -- Vilma Ortiz Donovan, Kenneth Harrigan, Casimiro Torres and Angel Ramos - spent over 70 years in prison combined. Released with no homes to go to or jobs for support, they ended up in a prisoner reentry facility in New York City known as The Castle, run by former convicts and established by The Fortune Society. With the help of The Castle, all four overcame their traumatic personal histories and chronic criminal behavior to become exemplary citizens. As part of their rehabilitation, they worked developing their life stories into a spoken word play that ran Off-Broadway for 14 months. In the play, each of them bares their souls in a painfully honest retelling of their personal stories -- from childhood and their crimes, to life in prison and the forces that helped them change. The film features scenes from the play being presented to prisoners and to a theater audience, along with other filmed scenes. All four speak about how what ought to be the final redemptive chapter -- release from prison -- is often the hardest challenge of all. Dropped back into society with little or no preparation and support virtually insures a high failure rate. Having spent 30 years in prison, Angel Ramos asks: How do I live like a normal human being when I have no idea what normal is? Their life-affirming stories of change provide an important model for reducing the rate of repeat offenders |
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Four former prisoners who had ended up, prior to release, in New York City's prisoner reentry facility The Castle tell their stories, from crime and incarceration to release and attempts to adapt to life outside prison. Includes performances of monologues excerpted from the play The Castle, written and performed off-Broadway by the four individuals featured in the film |
| Analysis |
Documentaries |
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Law & Criminal Justice |
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Race & Class Studies |
| Notes |
Title from title frames |
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"Based on the play 'The castle'" |
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"Original theatrical production of 'The Castle' conceived, co-authored, and directed by David Rothenberg." |
| Credits |
Director of photography, Frederic Fasano ; editors, Philip F. Messina & Martin Feinberg |
| Performer |
Featuring Casimiro Torres, Kenneth Harrigan, Vilma Ortiz Donovan, Angel Ramos |
| Event |
Originally released as a documentary film by The Video Project in 2013 |
| Notes |
In English |
| Subject |
Torres, Casimiro
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Harrigan, Kenneth
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Donovan, Vilma Ortiz
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Ramos, Angel
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| SUBJECT |
Ramos, Angel. fast (OCoLC)fst01987283 |
| Subject |
Prisoners -- Deinstitutionalization -- New York (State) -- New York -- Case studies
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Prisoners -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography
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Ex-convicts -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography
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Prisoners -- Attitudes.
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Ex-convicts -- Attitudes
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Prisoners -- Deinstitutionalization.
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Prisoners -- Attitudes.
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Prisoners.
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Ex-convicts -- Attitudes.
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Ex-convicts.
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New York (State) -- New York.
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| Genre/Form |
Biographies.
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
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Nonfiction films.
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Documentary films.
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Case studies.
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Biographical films.
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Internet videos.
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Documentary films.
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Biographical films.
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Nonfiction films.
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
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Internet videos.
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Documentaires.
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Films biographiques.
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Films autres que de fiction.
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Vidéos pour personnes handicapées auditives.
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Vidéos sur Internet.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Messina, Philip Frank, film director, film producer, editor of moving image work.
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Feinberg, Marty, film producer, editor of moving image work.
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Krebs, Eric, film producer.
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Coleman, Matt (Producer), film producer.
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Mishkin, Chase, producer of original theatrical work.
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Torres, Casimiro, commentator
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Harrigan, Kenneth, commentator
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Donovan, Vilma Ortiz, commentator
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Ramos, Angel, commentator
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Rothenberg, David, 1933-
Castle
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Winner Pictures, production company.
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Video Project, publisher.
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