Apart is an empathetic documentary that follows three women serving time at an Ohio facility. We learn that female inmates in the US rose over 800% since the war on drugs began, with 80% of them being mums. We meet Lydia, Amanda, and Tomika who are attending daily sessions outside the prison to teach them how to integrate back into society, including preparing for the working world.
We learn that 2 of the ladies grew up around drugs and circumstances led them into that dark world, with them getting sentences between 2 ½ and 10 years for various crimes. One of the ladies, on the other hand, lived the dream American life with her family. An incident drives her into the world of pain medication dependence which then leads her down the dark path of heroin addiction. In these three cases, they are all mothers who have lost precious time with their children.
We follow them within and outside the facility, see how they interact during meal times, and learn more about them during the prison visit days. As the film progresses, we see that each of these ladies wants to get back to their lives, reconnect with their families, and put this trying time in their lives behind them.
One can appreciate the daily program they are a part of outside the prison because they also meet former women with substance use disorders who show them that it is possible to break the cycle. Interviews with their families show how this kind of situation impacts those left outside to go through life without their loved ones.
We also see their journey as they fight for their chance to be released from prison and learn that it requires patience and rehabilitation for the justice system to trust them to rejoin society. During this journey, we learn that Lydia’s husband has been diagnosed with a chronic illness which means she is surrounded by pain medication.
Cheryl, the counselor, closes the film with a powerful message "There will be challenges. There will be some good days, there will be bad days," to show that anyone can emerge from this healing process victorious.
Apart effectively sheds light on how prison time not only affects inmates but also families. It is harder, especially for women who leave their children and homes behind for years as they try to rebuild their lives and character. It is a hard-hitting cautionary tale that ends in triumph and hope for better days ahead.
Which subject does this film apply to?
This educational documentary follows mothers who have ended up in prison as a result of substance use disorders and other crimes. It is also a story that shows their fight to reconnect with family as they reflect on their lives. This content is suitable for Gender Studies, Women’s Studies, Law, and Social Studies.
What film collection would this film be suitable for?
Apart is perfect for academic documentary collections about social justice. It is a story that shows us that there is life after prison and there is always an opportunity to learn and grow from our life experiences.
Does this film have Public Performance Rights available?
This documentary has Public Performance Rights available at $395, which you can get here. You can choose the DVD or Digital Site License. This is ideal for organizations and institutions.