In a world of franchise films and sci-fi epics, Sing Sing is my favourite film of 2024.
And it’s not even close.
Set within the walls of the famed penitentiary, Sing Sing tells the story of Divine G (Colman Domingo), an incarcerated person who is fighting a system that has put him away unjustly. Having been behind bars for many years, he finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men called Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). As they’re looking for new members, Divine G comes across Divine Eye (Clarence Maclin), a rough-edged inmate who is looking for an opportunity to prove himself. As they develop a new play, the men must work out their personal lives while they rediscover their own stories through their characters.
Directed by Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing is more than a drama. It’s an experience. As Maclin and Domingo pour their hearts out onscreen, we are instantly drawn to the hearts of these men as they attempt to pick up the pieces of their lives. Walking the line between drama and (in some ways) documentary, the film feels authentic in every way. And, of course, there is good reason for this. After all, many—if not most—of the cast members in this film are former inmates themselves. By casting men who have benefited from RTA, Sing Sing doesn’t feel like a drama about others. It feels a personal letter from each of them, inviting us to witness their paths to redemption.
This is a story about empathy in times of struggle, and it works both narratively and in reality.
As such, much of the film’s success lies at the feet of its performances. As Divine G, Domingo has never been better. Incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, Divine G finds life in the RTA yet still battles his own anger. Even so, Domingo ensures that the strength of conviction behind his eyes is balanced out by humility and grace. However, arguably, the best performance of the film comes from Maclin. Playing a fictionalized version of himself, Maclin offers a fiery performance that balances out Domingo’s more nuanced work. Together, the two men absolutely bring out the best in one another, providing support for one another while still calling each other to accountability.
Through the journeys of Divine G and Divine Eye, Sing Sing taps into the brutal realities of the prison system. Struggling to find adequate representation and the dangers of living amongst those with anger issues all factor into their abilities to heal in confinement. These are men who are fighting for their lives outside the walls of Sing Sing while they grapple with the consequences of their actions within them.
Even so, Sing Sing isn’t an exploitative film. Instead, it’s built upon hopefulness.
For these men, the opportunity to participate in RTA is a chance to grow and change. For many of these men, masculinity is invariably tied to power and force. Amongst the prison yard, we see moments where men are jockeying for dominance over one another. But, with every group session and practice in RTA, they begin to unlock the corners of their soul that men aren’t often allowed to explore. For these men, tapping into their creative juices allows them to connect with their emotions. In a world of hyper-masculinity, RTA gives them the chance to heal and evolve. Within their characters, they start to find themselves. (Maybe, for the first time.)
It’s this level of empathy that makes Sing Sing such a beautiful experience. Backed by stunning performances by his cast, Kwedar offers us a story of redemption that highlights the power of self-expression and the ways that it can offer us freedom, even when others seek to take it away.
Sing Sing is available in theatres on Friday, August 2nd, 2024.
