Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME
Plot: “Inside a Michigan prison, a dedicated chef’s gourmet culinary training program gives incarcerated men new skills - and new hope.” -IMDB
The United States of America incarcerates about 2.2 million people, which is roughly the population of New Mexico. Compared to the rest of the world, we incarcerate about 25% of the world’s prison population despite only having about 4% of the world’s total population. Our prison system has ballooned into an industrial complex focused, not on rehabilitation, but punishment, social isolation, and the decimation of local communities (particularly communities of color).
With this in mind, I chose Coldwater Kitchen as my first documentary of the 2023 Seattle International Film Festival. I was interested in learning about new ideas for prison, and if there are any classes or trainings that could equip inmates with skills for life after prison.. This documentary answered those questions and charted a new way of thinking.
Centered in a prison cooking class in Coldwater, Michigan, you quickly learn this program is about restoring dignity. Chef Hill, who is an accomplished chef possessing a god-like level of patience, grace, and trust, leads the program. With a calm but authoritative demeanor, he leads classes with a simple mission; give these aspiring chefs the tools they need to succeed outside of prison.
What makes this documentary special happens outside the walls of the prison. The audience follows two released inmates as they chart new paths forward outside the walls of the prison. As they battled internal conflict and external pressures, I hung on the edge of my seat. Would they make it, or would they become another sad statistic?
Ultimately, this is a film about embracing second chances. It is light on prison reform or conversations around restorative justice. But it fully believes our criminal justice system can be the birthplace of new opportunities and that the truth of time will reveal the inherent greatness of men society is too quick to turn its back on.
Be good to each other,
Nathan