Ever wonder how many stories you’ve missed? Ever wonder if your world-view could be different?
Take a camera into a prison and you’re going to hear some honest tales. When people are going through a process of self-forgiveness or asking for forgiveness from others then honesty pours …
“I Knew a Man Named Simon”
The Forgiveness Project is an international charity which, among other activities, offers free digital media courses in British prisons. At the end of each course, the prisoners produce a short film on the subject of forgiveness
M.K’s story is well-delivered and uninterrupted by the questions or expectations of society. Other films from The Forgiveness Project are less gripping, but the purpose isn’t solely to entertain – it is to provide a medium through which an individual can unravel their thoughts, (often) guilt and apply forgiveness in a form that rings true.
Prisoners Offering Advise for New Prisoners
Brixton prison was in the news recently with the success of its radio station, so it should be no surprise it would also embrace film as a means to self-rehabilitation. According to the introduction, this is “the first ever film made by prisoners about life in a British prison uncensored and uncut.”
H.M.P. High Down also hosted The Forgiveness Project
Alistair Pirrie has been the lead on The Forgivness Project’s work in prisons.
Prison Photography 
3 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Sven
Pete, another excellent piece. I’m continuously amazed at how deeply you are able to delve into this subject. It is mind-boggling how taboo this topic is in the mainstream media and how little we hear about this broad and far-reaching subculture. It is almost as if there’s another country within our country, but our diplomatic relations are minimal or kept at bay. So thanks again for your work, in the hope that it will contribute to making this “foreign country” obsolete some day.
August 13, 2009 at 5:25 pm
petebrook
As always, Sven, at your service. It’s a pleasure to research and write about these things .. and attempt to reduce the foreignness/otherness of it all.
August 17, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Brendan
Fantastic interviews but it’s a damn shame they threw that wretched music in the background… Suddenly I’m watching Lifetime infomercials…