Describing films as “brave” can be ridiculous if the risks involved are artistic ones, but documentary features may actually face hazardous conditions within their productions. Even if documentary films are told in a compelling way that make them entertaining to watch, they seek to uncover something true, and are intended to keep their viewers informed. The Academy Awards tend to nominate powerful, timely films in the Best Documentary Feature category, and The Alabama Solution is an eye-opening examination of the abuses conducted in state prisons. Although it is focused on one specific institution, The Alabama Solution addresses systematic abuses across the entire country.
Directed by Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jarecki, the award-winning creator of The Jinx, The Alabama Solution examines the aftermath of the death of Steven Davis, an inmate at the Easterling Correctional Facility in Alabama. Davis had been beaten to death by prison guards, and both Jarecki and Kaufman suspected that this was a byproduct of a much larger policy involving the dehumanization of inmates. The revelations that The Alabama Solution makes about what goes on behind closed doors in America’s prisons isn’t just terrifying, but infuriating. The film isn’t just intended to shock with its devastating recounting of tragedies, but aims to raise awareness so that legitimate change can be enacted.
‘The Alabama Solution’ Was a Dangerous Production
One of the key points made in The Alabama Solution is that life in contemporary prisons is completely obscured and undocumented given the limited access that media has to the interior of these institutions. While popular culture had painted a certain portrayal of how inmates are treated, Jarecki and Kaufman were able to uncover how a sphere of terror has silenced any activists from speaking out. In order to get invaluable details about the ways in which state funds were being used, The Alabama Solution collected footage from real inmates who risked their lives in order to share their truth with the filmmakers. It not only ensures the authenticity of the film’s assumptions, but adds an emotional component that wouldn’t have been present otherwise; although it is important for any documentary to collect data that makes quantitative assessments, The Alabama Solution is a reminder that this is an issue that affects real people, each of whom have their own stories. While it’s not the first piece of media to shine a spotlight on the Free Alabama Movement, which launched the largest prison strikes in American history in 2016, The Alabama Solution does help to humanize members of the organization’s leadership.
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Those who have been following news reports about institutional corruption may not be shocked by the details that were unearthed by The Alabama Solution, but the film explores the culture that has allowed for mass exploitation. It’s through a well-orchestrated campaign of propaganda that those in power were able to dehumanize inmates so that the public wouldn’t be concerned about the stripping of their rights; as a result, the methods of using prisoners to perform laborious tasks hasn’t been deemed as “slavery” by the media, even if it fits the description. While The Alabama Solution speaks to the timeliness of the crisis by exploring the consequences that Davis’ death had on his family, it also compiled information that was already available to the public. The film’s title is a reference to a phrase uttered by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, whose resistance to any federal oversight on the state’s prison policies essentially made it exempt from any repercussions. Although Jarecki’s comments about it being easier to infiltrate an international warzone than a state prison are initially framed as an overstatement, it becomes increasingly clear that he was stating facts.
‘The Alabama Solution’ Has the Potential To Inspire Real Change
The Alabama Solution is a necessary viewing for informed citizens because the film helps to cut through disinformation that is weaponized by prisons to divert attention from the breaking of laws. It’s revealed early on that a religious-themed event that Jarecki had initially intended to cover was simply a public relations stunt made to create a false narrative about the “redemption” of those behind bars. The film also examines the blatant disregard for mandates, as the population of the Easterling location surpassed its capacity limit by a double amount, and had failed to maintain even basic requirements for dignity and hygiene. The issue that the film points out is that there’s no system in place to ensure that these laws are being respected, and that those who would report otherwise are at risk of facing the same deadly consequences that Davis did.
The recognition that The Alabama Solution has received shows that the Academy Awards do have a positive impact on the industry by spotlighting titles in need of attention. While aspects of award season can be frustrating, its competitive nature does make it more likely that films like The Alabama Solution will be received by those who may not have otherwise sought them out. It’s not the frontrunner in the category, as the equally devastating Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor has also gained traction for its gripping examination of racially-motivated hate crimes. However, what ends up winning the trophy matters less than whether these films help to create broader discussions about what can be done to amend these complex corruption issues. The evidence that The Alabama Solution provides is completely irrefutable, but whether it will be treated with the needed gravity remains to be seen.
The Alabama Solution is available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.
- Release Date
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October 10, 2025
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Director
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Charlotte Kaufman, Andrew Jarecki
