Civil Brand

Director Neema Barnette comments upon what happens when correctional facilities are run like corporations, with profit and personal gain at first hand.
Exclusively young Afro-American women inhabit the Whitehead Correctional Institute. Some guilty, some innocent, but all subjects to maltreatment by the male guards. The slave-like working conditions are compared to the former plantations of the American South, but despite the rough prison climate with regular fights and stabbing amongst inmates, the women, in their mutual despair, strike up a close friendship. Fed up with the abuse of violence, and with the help of a good-hearted prison guard (Mos Def), they start a quiet revolution that soon gets out of hand.
This touching yet hardboiled prison drama was awarded by Best Film and Best Actor (Clifton Powell) by The American Black Film Festival last year. Clifton Powell is convincing as despotic and genuinely cruel guard, and the performance by the hip-hop artist cast is remarkable. Aesthetically, Civil Brand reminds of the films of the New Hollywood in the 70’s. The soundtrack is a feast for lovers of black American music, both older and contemporary.
JONAS GUSTAFSSON

Medverkande
Mos Def, Mc Lyte, Lisa Rae: Producent
Neema Barnette: Manus
Preston Whitmore: Foto
Yuri Neyman: Talat språk
English