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Last Days of Solitary

Name: Last Days of Solitary
Director: Daniel Edge, Lauren Mucciolo
Released: 2017
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

7.3/10

Good

2017

TV-MA

Director

Daniel Edge, Lauren Mucciolo

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Last Days of Solitary is a sophisticated documentary that shifts the focus from criminality to the systemic impact of isolation on the human psyche. It succeeds by providing an empathetic look at how institutionalized power affects vulnerable populations. The film's strength lies in its ability to document the intersection of race and systemic failure. By focusing on the psychological toll of solitary confinement, it elevates the conversation from simple observation to a profound critique of state authority. However, the film is limited by its specific setting. Because it focuses on a male prison, the narrative lacks gender diversity and queer perspectives, resulting in a heavily masculine-centric viewpoint.

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Category Breakdown

Does Last Days of Solitary have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the interpersonal dynamics of a male-dominated prison environment. There is no explicit evidence of queer narratives or non-straight identities being central to the reform experiment.

How does Last Days of Solitary portray gender?

Limited

The narrative is almost exclusively centered on male experiences and psychological struggles. It adheres to a traditional masculine framework due to the specific male population at Maine State Prison.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Last Days of Solitary?

Excellent

The documentary provides a nuanced look at how the carceral system disproportionately affects underrepresented communities. It highlights systemic structures by documenting the lived experiences of Black and Latino inmates.

How does Last Days of Solitary represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critiques Western institutional power and the morality of the American justice system. It explores the human cost of punishment and shows inmates seeking spiritual solace.

Does Last Days of Solitary include disability representation?

Good

A central pillar of the film is the exploration of mental health consequences and cognitive decline. It treats psychological trauma as a harrowing reality rather than a mere plot device.

Present on Screen

Provides a nuanced look at how race intersects with systemic carceral structures.
Offers a profound and empathetic exploration of mental health and psychological trauma.
Effectively critiques Western institutional power and the ethics of the American justice system.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible LGBTQ+ perspectives or queer narratives within the prison setting.
The narrative is almost exclusively centered on male experiences, limiting gender diversity.

Official Synopsis

In 2011, Maine State Prison launched a pioneering reform program to scale back its use of solitary confinement. Bafta and Emmy-winning film-maker Dan Edge and his co-director Lauren Mucciolo were given unprecedented access to the solitary unit - and filmed there for more than three years. The result is an extraordinary and harrowing portrait of life in solitary - and a unique document of a radical and risky experiment to reform a prison. The US is the world leader in solitary confinement. More than 80,000 American prisoners live in isolation, some have been there for years, even decades. Solitary is proven to cause mental illness, it is expensive, and it is condemned by many as torture. And yet for decades, it has been one of the central planks of the American criminal justice system.

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