I quickly asked ethan if i could write something about it. In 2008, phillips released the dhamma brothers into movie theaters. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility who enter. With grady bankhead, ron cavanaugh, jonathan crowley, edward johnson. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic story of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of a group of prisoners as they enter into this arduous program. Scott harshbarger, former attorney general of massachusetts.
Financial analysis of the dhamma brothers 2008 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Documentary film about the introduction of the goenka vipassana system into the american prison service. With duane sharp, kim chan, debra miller, ezra buzzington. This film has the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars and also, in the words of sister helen prejean dead man walking, gives you hope for the human. For home use only a film by jenny phillips, anne marie stein and andrew kukura behind the high security towers and double row of. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. An overcrowded maximumsecurity prisonthe end of the line in alabamas correctional systemis dramatically changed by the in. A sort of cross between the shawshank redemption and an episode of msnbcs lockup, the intriguing documentary the dhamma brothers makes a cogent case for prisoner rehabilitation over, as one. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
It is uplifting to learn about a powerful and relatively inexpensive course that can help prisoners permanently change for the better their way of looking at and experiencing life. Two bhuddist teachers of vipassana meditation led a 10day silent retreat for a volunteer group of inmates. Jun 17, 2014 the film asks is it possible for these men, some of whom have committed horrendous crimes, to change. The dhamma brothers 2008 stream and watch online moviefone. The dhamma brothers poignantly demonstrates the resiliency of the prisoners who participated in a 10day silent retreat in the prisons gym.
Apr 11, 2008 directed by andrew kukura, jenny phillips, anne marie stein. Dhamma brothers best spiritual movies movie watchers. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility who enter into this arduous and intensive program. The donaldson correctional facility is a maximum security prison. This film has the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars. Teaching peace in a violent world the dhamma brothers. For the sake of understanding the movie s title, the dhamma are the teachings of the buddha and the dhamma brothers are a specific group of inmates who took the director of treatment. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The dhamma brothers film demonstrates just how to do this. If you simply keep feeling the breath as it comes in and as it goes out, the mind gets quieter and more peaceful.
The dhamma brothers if these program results can be replicated, the human, social and economic costs of incarceration could be dramatically mitigated for all of us. The dhamma brothersa film to inspire your meditation practice. Within this dark environment, a growing network of men began gathering to meditate on a. Looking at changed lives on death row the boston globe. Anapana meditation is a way to keep the mind cool and calm, by concentrating on one object. Donaldson correctional facility to teach prisoners an ancient meditation technique called vipassana. This thoughtful if rough hewn doc about death row inmates who discover buddhism inspires hope. The dhamma brothers is a film that chronicles what happens when two buddhist teachers enter alabamas tough william e. It expertly interweaves the stories of a few prisoners in a way that helps us understand the causes and conditions of crime and punishment. In some ways, i feel torn between sympathy for the tibetans and suspicion that they are being manipulated by washington. Jenny phillips film prison meditation the new york times.
The dhamma brothers curriculum guide journeys in film. Dhamma brothers reminds us that for many people the worst prison of all is the prison of the mind. The film has the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars. Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the jenny phillipsdirected movie via subscription can be a.
The documentary film, the dhamma brothers, tells a dramatic tale of human potential and courage as it closely follows a group of prisoners in an endofthel. View of a bank of security cameras observing a prisoner in a cell, hallway. Male with crew cut graying hair continues i want a nice place to live too. In the words of inmate benjamin oryang, whether someone is free or whether someone is incarcerated, such work should be done if one wants to grow personally. I saw a movie a few nights ago called the dhamma brothers. Ron cavanaugh, director of treatment for the alabama department of corrections vipassana is a structured program designed to enhance coping skills and encourage responsible living through the use of meditation techniques which have the potential to produce the ultimate benefits of compassion and equanimity. This prison held the first vipassana retreat for inmates. Meditating prisoners my interest in the documentary the dhamma brothers was heightened by the conflict in tibet, where buddhist monks have been charged by some leftists as functioning as cia agents. This film, with the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind. Inmates serving long sentences in one of the countrys toughest state prisons experience the liberating effects of the vipassana meditation program. Scott harshbarger, former attorney general of massachusetts classroom streaming.
I just saw her as a teenager in the horror movie strangers. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The film features four inmates, all convicted of murder, and includes interviews with guards, prison officials, local residents and other inmates, and reenactments of their crimes. Apr 11, 2008 as codirected by anne marie stein, andrew kukura, and massachusettsbased psychologistcumanthropologist jenny phillips, the documentary the dhamma brothers relays one of the most astounding recent tales of social evolution in contemporary america. The documentary film, the dhamma brothers, tells a dramatic tale of human potential and courage as it closely follows a group of prisoners in an endof the l. Overview of dhamma brothers, the, 2008, directed by jenny phillips, with grady bankhead, edward johnson, ben oryang, at turner classic movies. These collected letters were published in 2008 by pariyatti press as letters from the dhamma brothers. Apr 11, 2008 enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the dhamma brothers near you. The freedom and community they find sitting on meditation cushions in an alabama prison is a rare inspiration to all of us. It is a largely fictional version of the life of the indian emperor ashoka the great, of the maurya dynasty, who ruled much of south asia from 273 bce to 232 bce.
Prison bars on door seen closing, observation tower, men outdoors seen through barbed wire and fencing. The dhamma brothers is a documentary film that tells the incredible story of the donaldson correctional facility in birmingham, al where 1,500 men live behind high security towers and barbed and electrical wire fences. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of prison inmates who enter into this arduous and intensive vipassana meditation program. My watchlist keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your.
On february 6, idp premiered its first salon night, featuring a showing of the dhamma brothers film. Anyway, this is a dramatic movie i believe many people can relate to. The dhamma brothers is a multiaward winning documentary film by jenny phillips, anne marie stein and andrew kukura. Want to watch the dhamma brothers in the comfort of your own home. The dhamma brothers 2008 andrew kukura, jenny phillips. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the dhamma brothers near you. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and. Apr 11, 2008 the teachings of the buddha infiltrate a maximumsecurity prison in the dhamma brothers, a thinkinghead documentary about finding answers within for those who cant get out. It houses the men serving life for violent crimes such as murder. In this update, find out how many prisoners have taken the vipassana program since the filming.
The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility, who enter into this arduous and intensive program. It will challenge assumptions about the very nature of prisons as places of punishment rather than rehabilitation. Watch the dhamma brothers online vimeo on demand on vimeo. But what if there were a chance of reducing the violence. I love natalie portman in this, and the actor who plays her daughter lucy bailee madison, is phenomenal. Brothers is a beautiful film and i couldnt take my eyes off it.
In a list of empath friendly films, it may seem counterintuitive to begin with a movie that is set in a concentration camp during the holocaust. The dhamma brothers discussion guide influence film club. If these program results can be replicated, the human, social and economic costs of incarceration could be dramatically mitigated for all of us. This thoughtful if rough hewn doc about death row inmates who discover buddhism inspires hope that all of us are worthy of redemption. Grady bankhead, jonathan crowley, jenny phillips, anne marie stein, andrew kukura. It is with a heavy heart that we let you know that jenny phillips, the director behind beyond the wall and the dhamma brothers passed away recently.
This is a list of some of the best spiritual movies of our time spiritual movie biographies. Sep, 2007 the dhamma brothers is an emotional documentary about the benefits of meditation for a most unlikely set of candidates. Those closest to her intend to keep her legacy alive and vibrant by continuing the amazing work that jenny started in the criminal justice community which was her passion. A nameless noir detective, still mourning the loss of his wife, investigates a mysterious death in a buddhist temple, but his logical, leftbrained crimesolving. This film has the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars and also. While working on the film, she received more than 200 letters from the alabama prisoners documenting their lives in prison and their quest for inner peace. The dhamma brothers collectors edition dvd beyond the wall.
This film touched me in many ways, and seemed to me to be a wonderful living portrayal of the four noble truths first, the film looks unflinchingly into the suffering of the inmates, the suffering their actions have caused others, and the hell realms they have created for themselves and others. Learn more about anne marie stein at with exclusive news, full bio and filmography as well as photos, videos, and more. Rehabilitation in prison the dhamma brothers is a powerful film depicting the true story of inmates in alabamas donaldson correctional facility. The dhamma brothers 2008 trailers and clips moviefone. The film shows the work to set up the space, away from normal prison life and skillfully cuts to. Aug 18, 2015 the dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correction facility, who enter into this arduous and intensive program. Male voice the best way to describe a prison is to think of it as a small city a man is seen jogging within the barbed wire fence. Inmates at a maximumsecurity prison enter an arduous vipassana meditation program. The dhamma brothers tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at donaldson correctional facility as they enter into this arduous and intensive program. The dhamma brothers is a documentary film released in 2007 about a prison meditation program at donaldson correctional facility near bessemer, alabama. Male voice continues this is my home and im doing what i can to make it the best place it can be. What if hardened criminals could learn to embrace peace.
The dhamma brothers is one of the most sensitive expressions of hope, capacity for change, and potential vehicles for institutional health that i have seen in my career in criminal justice. The dhamma brothers is a documentary movie about an alabama prison. The film was directed by santosh sivan and stars shahrukh khan as ashoka and kareena kapoor as kaurwaki, a princess of kalinga. Its about a meditation program at donaldson correctional facility in alabama, one of the most violent prisons in the country. The dhamma brothers a wonderful, powerful, and unsentimental film about incarcerated men getting below the surface of things.