The House I Live In

Eugene Jarecki's documentary presents a searing indictment of both the efficacy and the supposed justice of the so-called War on Drugs, detailing the chronic failure of government policy over the past four decades. The House I Live In skillfully interweaves archival material with interviews to trace the relevant history from the Nixon administration to the present, suggesting that politicians continue to espouse anti-drug rhetoric and stiff enforcement tactics simply to prove that they are tough on crime, despite the fact that the “war” may have actually exacerbated the problem, leading to increased police corruption while also promoting an explosion of self-perpetuating industries such as for-profit prisons. Jarecki personalizes the subject by incorporating the story of one mother, Nannie Jeter—who also happens to be the Jarecki family's beloved housekeeper—as she grieves over the loss of her son from an overdose. The film advances a provocative sociological argument, contending that anti-drug legislation has been used as a means of marginalizing—and warehousing—segments of the population deemed dangerous or simply unwanted. This practice, Jarecki suggests, began in the 19th century with laws against opium, primarily used by Chinese immigrants, and has continued with the criminalization of drugs perceived as being the favorites of blacks (such as crack cocaine) or Mexican-Americans (marijuana). Jarecki builds his case methodically, using excerpts from interviews with scholars, journalists, police officers, judges, prisoners, and ordinary citizens, as well as Jeter. A compelling, thought-provoking documentary, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)