UPDATE: Gideon’s Army will be awarded the 2014 Ridenhour Documentary Film Prize on April 30th at The National Press Club in Washington, DC. Kudos to filmmaker Dawn Porter & her cast & crew!
Terrific doc follows 2 young Black attorneys (Brandy Alexander & Travis Williams) who have taken on the difficult role of Public Defender. With all the odds stacked against them, they still fight for clients who often have no one else in their corner.
The mechanics are mind-blowing & it becomes clear that our great “adversarial justice system” really is rigged to benefit those with $$.
Kudos to filmmaker Dawn Porter & her team for bringing us this important story about the important work of the Southern Public Defender Training Center! (JLH: 4/5)
Highly recommended by both me & Rich. Click HERE for our FF2 Haiku.
Q: Why are you posting this now (on 2/4/14)…?
Altho Gideon’s Army played in multiple film festivals, it was never official “released” in a New York theatre. However it was nominated for a 2014 Independent Spirit Award, so it just arrived in my screener pouch. We watched it right away & we now recommend it to all our readers.
Top Photo: Public Defender Brandy Alexander.
Bottom Photo: New Orleans graffiti reflects an increasingly cynical view of America’s Criminal Justice system.
Photo Credits: Chris Hilleke.
Q: Does Gideon’s Army pass the Bechdel Test? 
Yes!
Female Public Defenders meet with female defendants and the female family members of their various clients.
ambience
Positano music