16 Bars

Richmond, Virginia's REAL, a voluntary jail program, aims to reduce recidivism rates. The initialism stands for Recovery from Everyday Addictive Lifestyles. Inmates interested in music-making gain access to recording studio time. In Sam Bathrick's compassionate, clear-eyed film, Atlanta native Todd "Speech" Thomas from Arrested Development leads a workshop. He starts by working with Anthony, who wrote a rap for the occasion. In the past, Anthony rapped about money and drugs, but now he's trying to take a more constructive approach. He had an abusive childhood and his mother, Loretta, blames her husband for pulling him into the drug world. Heavily-tattooed inmate Garland, who turned to robbery to fuel his drug habit, has a talent for music with a country feel, like early James Taylor. When he was younger, he says, his sole ambition was to work as a bouncer at a strip club. Like Garland, De'vonte is a talented guitar player. He's been at it since he was 12 years old, but he got caught up in the drug scene due to heroin-addicted bandmates and a mother he describes as a "queenpin." The REAL program is also available to former inmates, like Teddy, who had submitted a demo that caught Speech's ear. Just a few days after his release, Teddy returns to record a few rap tracks. If things are looking up for some of the men, one inmate keeps getting into altercations, and he loses access to the program benefits. As Sarah, the founder and program director, states, "None of you are owed the REAL program." By the end, it's clear that all four subjects have benefited from it, some more substantially than others. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)