Sing Sing
A group of inmates at the Sing Sing correctional facility in New York discover a connection through drama.
The Bard behind bars: Colman Domingo
Image courtesy of Black Bear Pictures UK Limited.
It’s not often that a convicted felon plays himself on screen, let alone collaborates on the script and ends up with an Oscar nomination. Yet that is the case with Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, who essays a younger version of himself in this poignant prison drama about a group of inmates attempting to put on a show. Maclin, as portrayed here, thinks he is the bee’s knees and wants the lead, even when he struggles to learn his lines. The film explores a genuine production produced through the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts programme at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in New York.
However, the real star player is John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield (who also scooped an Oscar nomination for the screenplay), played by Colman Domingo. Divine G is dedicated to helping his fellow inmates through the power of theatre and is something of a literary snob. The film opens with Domingo sprouting, “the course of true love never did run smooth” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and a jolly good rendition it is, too. So Divine G is none too pleased when the RTA director Brent Buell (an excellent Paul Raci) whips up a script to suit all the tastes of Divine G’s fellow players. Here, there’s a bit of ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, some Western spoofery, time travel, a slice of Freddy Krueger – in fact, something for everyone, including ‘that’ soliloquy from Hamlet, which eventually goes to ‘Divine Eye’ and not ‘Divine G’.
The true strength of Sing Sing lies in the authentic mix of ex-cons playing themselves alongside actors of the calibre of Domingo and Raci. Domingo was rightfully nominated for an Oscar as best actor, but lost out to Adrien Brody, although this critic preferred Domingo with his almost imperceptible ability to draw on a wide range of emotions, both profound and peripheral. Somehow, Domingo (who was also nominated for last year’s Rustin, playing the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin), taps into an even deeper humanity when playing off Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin playing himself.
Showcasing the power of theatre to heal, Sing Sing gives a rare insight into prison life, in which the internees are not monsters, but men. The scenes where they are forced to expose their most intimate vulnerabilities catches one in the throat, even when a sense of violence is never far from the surface. And as the production of Brent Buell’s ‘Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code’ continues, so its disparate cast of players comes into focus. Greg Kwedar’s film, recalling the documentaries Shakespeare Behind Bars (2005) and The Work (2017), is not only a hugely original and daring undertaking, but one that blends an appreciation of the validity of Shakespeare today alongside a compassion for men – most of them parents – who have lost their way.
JAMES CAMERON-WILSON
Cast: Colman Domingo, Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, Sean San José, Paul Raci, David ‘Dap’ Giraudy, Patrick ‘Preme’ Griffin, Mosi Eagle, James ‘Big E’ Williams, Dario Peña, Miguel Valentin, Camillo ‘Carmine’ Lovacco, Cornell ‘Nate’ Alston, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield.
Dir Greg Kwedar, Pro Monique Walton, Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Ex Pro Colman Domingo, Screenplay Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, from a story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield, Ph Pat Scola, Pro Des Ruta Kiskyte, Ed Parker Laramie, Music Bryce Dessner, Costumes Desira Pesta, Sound Lee Salevan.
Black Bear Pictures/Marfa Peach Company-Black Bear Pictures UK Limited.
106 mins. USA. 2023. UK Rel: 30 August 2024. US Internet Rel: 21 March 2025. Cert. 15.
