One of the best films of 2024 is returning to theaters nationwide on January 17th. Greg Kwedar‘s Sing Sing first hit theaters on July 12th, garnering only modest box office returns. Following its theatrical run, A24 decided not to release the Colman Domingo-led film about a small theater group made up entirely of incarcerated men at New York’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility on any digital or streaming platforms. Having now established itself as a legitimate player in this year’s awards season, though, the studio is hoping this re-release causes movie fans to head to the theater to check out this excellent film that they may have missed the first time around.
Based on a true story, Sing Sing is centered on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program and the effects it has had on men and women who participated in it. One of the many things that makes this film so special was Kwedar‘s decision to fill out his cast with actual RTA alums. Outside of Domingo, the majority of the cast is made up of formerly imprisoned men who were members of the program when they were behind bars. Most notable among them is Sing Sing’s co-lead Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, whose real-life story provided inspiration for the film’s plot. An advocative film with a lot to say, the decision to cast former RTA members gives Sing Sing‘s core messages much more weight, while also granting it an air of authenticity that it wouldn’t have otherwise.
‘Sing Sing’ Uses Rehabilitation Through the Arts to Showcase the Power of Artistic Expression
Sing Sing centers on Divine G (Domingo), a man incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, who finds purpose and meaning, alongside other inmates, through the prison’s theater program. Domingo‘s character is based heavily on John “Divine G” Whitfield, a former RTA member who went on to become a novelist and playwright after his time in prison. Maclin plays a fictionalized version of himself in the film. His character’s initial reluctance to join the RTA program mirrors the actual journey Maclin went on during his 17-year-long prison stint. Speaking with Elle Magazine, Maclin stated he was “into a much different life” before becoming involved with the program. It was after seeing some of his fellow inmates, who he had never thought of as actors or performers, stage One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest when everything began to change for Maclin. “It was intriguing how they were pulling this off, and it seemed like they were enjoying it. So I wanted to capture that feeling,” the actor told the magazine.
Through Divine G, Divine Eye, and the rest of the characters’ relationship with the program, Sing Sing explores the powerful impact RTA has had on its members in the real world. Not only does the program allow prisoners the opportunity to create something and express themselves while locked up, it often leads to them continuing to transform their lives after they are released. According to the program’s website, less than 3% of RTA members return to prison, compared to 60% nationally. Currently, the program — which originated at Sing Sing — is active in eight prisons throughout New York. Maclin, as well as Brent Buell, a co-producer on the film and former director of the RTA program who is portrayed by Paul Raci in Sing Sing, believe the program should be expanded to all prisons nationwide.
It’s hard to watch Sing Sing and not find yourself sharing the same belief as Maclin and Buell. The film does such an effective job showing how programs like RTA really can be life-changing for inmates. A movie about finding your purpose, it is a story and an idea that will resonate with anyone who has ever found freedom in artistic expression. Wisely, Kwedar wasn’t concerned with following the formula of a traditional “prison film.” He only uses the movie’s setting as a way to explore how every person is capable of change, and how humanity is ever-present in all areas of society.
‘Sing Sing’s Cast Gives the Film’s Core Themes Deeper Meaning
Sing Sing is not the typical fictional Hollywood tale about how art can save the world. It is a story about the effects that advocating for the arts can have in real life, which is why casting actual RTA alums was so crucial. Quite literally, as the film is showcasing the importance of programs like RTA, the positive impacts of such programs are being seen on screen in real time. Its very existence serves as validating proof of its own ideas.
The film’s themes are recontextualized and made much more tangible as a result of Kwedar‘s brilliant casting. And, having Maclin be a key component in the telling of his own story gives Sing Sing a deeply personal and authentic feel. A lot of times, stories about the power of art can come off as somewhat corny. Sing Sing manages to avoid this by focusing more on the artists, and the heartwarming journey they embark on, rather than the art itself. It also works as a process movie, showing how a piece of art is made and the effects that such an undertaking can have on its creators. With the acclaim Sing Sing has received, it would definitely be fair to say that the art made as a result of the RTA program has led to life-changing effects for those who participated.
Sing Sing truly is one of the best films released in 2024. It is a heartwarming story that deserves to be seen by more people. Hopefully, whatever attention it receives from the Academy, as well as its return to theaters, leads to more people seeking it out.
Sing Sing is returning to theaters in the U.S. on January 17th.
via Collider