The four-part documentary College Behind Bars is an intimate look at the lives and experiences of a dozen BPI students and their families that confronts and challenges conventional wisdom about the purpose of both education and incarceration.
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“What you see at the end is a testament to the power of education, and why it remains such a dangerous and underrated weapon against a racially and economically unjust status quo in this nation.”
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“I don’t know how you could watch this and not be incredibly moved.”
“Provocative. Easily binge-able. Lynn Novick’s four-part series is persuasive and compelling as an argument for prison education reform… It will probably have you brushing away tears as you’re pondering bigger questions.”
“Absorbing and inspiring. Provides a stark yet hopeful demonstration of the freedom that comes with opening your mind to a higher education.”
“An important educational call to arms. The doc is also a moving portrait of individuals determined to defy the odds and build a better future for themselves.”
“A nuanced look at education in the prison industrial complex.”
“The powerful new miniseries suggests we might find hope in the transformative effect of higher education.”
Since the film aired in 2019…
Explore how BPI has changed and hear from alumni featured in the film
“Education itself is what liberated me…it helped me understand my place in the world and activated me as a civically minded person.”
Dyjuan Tatro ’18
The BPI student body has expanded:
“Experiences like this made me want to fight harder, to study harder…so that I can make a dent—as just one person—in this thing we call the criminal justice system.”
Sebastian Yoon ’17
The BPI alumni community is growing:
“Now that I’ve been home for a few years, I appreciate even more what it means to be a Bard alum.”
Shawnta Montgomery ’17
The number of degrees conferred is rising:
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College Behind Bars is directed and produced by Lynn Novick; produced by Sarah Botstein; edited by Tricia Reidy ACE; produced by Salimah El-Amin and Mariah Doran; with original music by Jongnic Bontemps; and with cinematography by Buddy Squires ASC and Nadia Hallgren. Ken Burns is executive producer. College Behind Bars is a production of Skiff Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV.
To learn more about this project go to:
Skiff Mountain Films