AGAINST THE WALL

US, 1994, 111 minutes, Colour.
Kyle Mac Lachlan, Samuel L.Jackson, Clarence Williams III, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Philip Bosco, Tom Bower, Anne Heche, Carmen Agenziano, Danny Trejo.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.

This is an HBO feature film but with aspects of documentary presentation. There have been feature films as well as documentaries on the prisoner uprising in the prison at Attica in 1971.

This film from the 1990s, directed by well-respected John Frankenheimer (who made another prison film with some acclaim, Birdman of Alcatraz), is a 1990s perspective on the events, on the conditions in American prisons, treatment of prisoners, and the fact that there has not been significant reform in the 20 years after the events.

The film introduces two central characters for the audience to identify with, Kyle Mac Lachlan as Michael Smith, son and nephew of longtime guards at Attica, married (his wife played by Anne Heche), expecting a child. While he has experience of living in the town, he goes into the prison system as a rookie, encouraged by fellow guards but finding difficulties in treatment from the veteran guard played by Frederic Forrest. There are scenes showing his experience in having to handle situations without training, his returning home, Is Going to the bar owned by his father (Harry Dean Stanton), the contrasting attitudes of the guards they are drinking, many very gung ho.

The other character is played by Samuel L.Jackson, African- American, loyal to the neo-Muslim movement and leaders like Malcolm X. He has changed his name to Jamaal. Educated, critical, we see him into the system, the bus ride, the treatment by the guards, the long physical examination and its humiliation, the cells, the oppressive life in prison, showers once a week, blocked toilets, limiting toilet paper, prisoners washing socks…

Clarence Williams III also appears as an intense prisoner, emotionally and psychologically unbalanced, ready to lead the revolution.

The bulk of the latter part of the film is about the prisoners’ uprising, smashing down doors and gates, occupying the yard, taking guards as hostages, four days, humiliating the guards, preparing weapons.

On the other hand, the head of the prison wants to send the forces in instantly. A representative of government Nelson Rockefeller, played by Philip Bosco, wants to negotiate and sits down with representatives, goes into the yard. However, an injured guard dies in hospital which means that all the prisoners are guilty of homicide. That is the end of negotiations, shooters on the roof fire, police attack, both the central characters are shot, Michael being rescued and his wife and father accompanying him to hospital in an ambulance.

Information is given at the end about statistics, what happened, the aftermath – and the fact that Michael Smith served as a historical advisor to the making of the film.

1. A piece of American history? Prison history? A 1990s perspective on the 1970s?

2. The prologue, the visual collage of America at the end of the 1960s, politically, the Vietnam war, protest? Setting the tone for this exploration of Attica?

3. The town of Attica, the settings, homes, the bar, the prison in the town, exteriors? The interiors of the prison, the cells, corridors, the yards, offices, shower blocks…? The musical score? (All filmed in Tennessee.)

4. The focus on Michael Smith? Growing up in Attica? His father and uncle and the years as guards? His prospects? His marriage to Sharon? Her pregnancy? Expectations on him? Going to work, his being welcomed, the friendship with the other guards, his uncle present, Weisbad and his experience, domination? Learning on the job, supervising the showers, not knowing the routine of hitting the bars, the prisoners walking out? His observing the others at work, the harsh routines, the blocked toilet…? His making representations? Considered as soft?

5. Hal, the years as a guard, his owning the bar, Michael coming in, the drinks, the talk amongst the men, Sharon present? The different visits, the over drinking, the discussions, clashes?

6. The administration of the prison, the warden busy, in his office, with the guards, the severe regime, showers once a week, not washing socks, limited toilet paper, limits on mail for Hispanics because of lack of Hispanic speakers…? Old school? And the other guards supporting his stances?

7. The range of prisoners, black, white, Hispanic, audience familiarity from movies of the regimes, strict? Inhumane? Complaints? Official reactions?

8. Jamaal, the Muslim prisoners, Muslim movements, Malcolm X…? His original name, Bishop, his Muslim name? The arrest, the treatment, the audience following him into the prison, the interrogations, the physical searches, clothing, cells? An educated man? Ideology? Attitudes towards authority? His life in the prison, interactions?

9. Chako, intense, his personality, complaints, leadership?

10. The initial reactions, the prisoners and the revolt, the workplaces, getting free, bashing down doors? Liberating others? Chako and his intensity? The other personalities who became leaders? Taunting the guards?

11. The rounding up of the guards, their being hostages, the treatment, violent, blood, the dead guard in hospital, the incident with trousers, public toilet, compliance, Michael and his resistance, not asking for shoes, the others urging him to ask? His uncle and the trousers?

12. Weisbad, his being found, the treatment, his defiance? His antagonism towards Michael? Wanting what was correct?

13. The decisions about the forces going in, on the ready outside, the guards and shooters on the roof? The days passing? Reaction of the men, shouting, violent, weapons?

14. Oswald, representing Governor Rockefeller, the clashes with Mancusi in ideas? His wanting to negotiate, to have time? The discussions with the representatives, with Jamaal? His going out into the yard, negotiations, concessions, but now amnesty? The death of the guard and everyone officially guilty of murder? His having to be rescued?

15. The plea by Oswald for the governor to come? Jamaal urging Michael to speak on television, his plea, his message to his wife? The promise to speak to Jamaal’s relatives, Jamaal to speak to Michael wife?

16. Outside, the clashes in the bar, the gung ho attitudes?

17. The helicopter, not the governor, the smoke bombs, the shooters on the roof, the indiscriminate shooting, the troops coming in, 10 hostages shot, almost 40 prisoners, Weissbad and his being shot, Michael’s uncle, Jamaal shot, Michael lying on the ground? His being shot by his friend, the friend in shock?

18. The bodies coming out, the ambulances, Hal and Sharon, rescuing Michael, into the ambulance?

19. The information about the aftermath, that Michael (and is actually being historical adviser for the film)? The film’s criticism of lack of reformation of prisons in the US?