Director: Euzhan Palcy
Writer(s): Benita Garvin
Starring: Alan Alda, Morris Chestnut, Rose McGowan, Lindsay Owen Pierre, Dean Patrick Fleming, Tyrone Benskin, B Martin Sage, Benz Antoine, Terence Bowman, Bill Corday, Larry Day, Lesley Faulkner, Dawn Ford, Christopher Heyerdahl, Arthur Holden, Marcel Jeannin, Yardly Kavanagh, Robert B. Kennedy, Patrick Kerton, Arif S. Kinchen, Tom Rack, Kevin Ryder, Amy Sloan, Kwasi Songui, Eliska Sursova, Danny Wells, Warren ‘Slim’ Williams
Synopsis: 1971, protesting the dreadful conditions at the state penitentiary, 1200 inmates — mostly African-American — takes control of Prison Yard D. After a half a week negotiating with the prisoners, the police burst into the jail with guns ablaze. Reportedly 2,200 rounds are fired, 39 people killed, and 80 wounded. Fearing an investigation, the State Department indicts a number of prisoners for murder, including Shango Bahati Kakawama, also known as Bernard Stroble, a former law student and activist against the prison administration. Crack lawyer Ernie Goodman agrees to defend him, but before he can keep him from the gallows he has to allay Shango’s distrust. Meanwhile, civil liberties activist Linda Borus uncovers the truth and the elaborate layers of deceit that the state erected.
Release Date: September 23, 2001 (USA) | Length: 110 min | Genre: Drama | MPAA Rating: Rated R for violence and language.