"We Matter Too"

18 May 2020

2 mins

Life: Inside

The barbarity of the American prison system is widely documented, but Covid-19 has thrown its issues into stark relief. From a lack of hygiene supplies to being refused basic medical care, this affecting film outlines the system's problems in the words of inmates themselves.

The crux of director Savanah Leaf’s film is that inmates are seen as problems, not people. Social distancing is impossible in overcrowded institutions, and it's hard to fault inmates for wondering if they would simply be left to die upon becoming infected.

The intense black-and-white aesthetic and sketchy imagery used to accompany their words is deeply evocative, highlighting the real-life horror film these people are living through. This is a much-needed reminder that those at the mercy of an unjust system still matter, and deserve protection just as much as those on the outside.

USA

Short Film