The Work (Jarius McLeary, 2017)
I didn't know much about this film before sitting down to watch it. I had heard it was supposed to be quite good, but why? It tells the story of a four day, intensive group therapy session which takes place in New Folsom Prison between a group of hardened inmates, some of whom have gone through the program, some of whom have not, and a group of civilians looking for something themselves. These civilians, however, are not that much different than the convicts from a psychological perspective. There are all shattered souls looking for something to begin to put the pieces back together.
It is a short, swift, and very concentrated film which follows just a few people, but each have their moment, and each is as earth shattering as the one that came before it. To a (somewhat) well-adjusted person like myself, at first glance these outbursts and breakthroughs feel put on. That they are excessively genuine and important to the subjects is what makes this a truly remarkable film.
***1/2 - Great