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The Alabama Solution
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| The Alabama Solution | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Andrew Jarecki Charlotte Kaufman |
| Written by | Andrew Jarecki Charlotte Kaufman Page Marsella |
| Produced by | Andrew Jarecki Charlotte Kaufman Alelur "Alex" Duran Beth Shelburne |
| Starring | Robert Earl Council Melvin Ray |
| Cinematography | Nicholas Kraus |
| Edited by | Page Marsella |
| Music by | Mark Batson Chris Hanebutt |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | HBO |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Alabama Solution is a 2025 American documentary film directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman. It follows the prison system in Alabama from the perspective of incarcerated leaders.
The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 28 and was released by HBO and HBO Max on October 10.
Summary
[edit] | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2025) |
Participants
[edit]- Robert Earl Council, serving life sentence for murder[1]
- Melvin Ray
- Sandy Ray
Release
[edit]The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2025.[2] The film premiered on HBO on October 10, 2025, as well as streaming on HBO Max.[3]
Reception
[edit]The Alabama Solution received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. Matt Brennan of The Los Angeles Times described the film as “one of the most shocking, visceral depictions of our carceral state ever put to film” and “a documentary that should outrage the nation.”[4]
Fred Topel of United Press International gave the film a positive review and wrote, “If incarcerated inmates can make progress in activism from inside prison walls, it suggests even greater things are possible when people with more resources join forces. The documentary illuminating the issue is a major step.”[5]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com also gave the film a positive review and wrote that it “ will likely play to people who already know about the corruption, brutality, and slave labor that feed our prison system, but it’s still important to see the horrors that unfold in this country that so many consider free.”[6]
Owen Gleiberman of Variety also gave the film a positive review, calling it “one of the most powerful exposés of the inhumanity of the American prison system I’ve ever seen. Directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, the movie is a scalding portrait of life on the inside that exerts a grip worthy of a thriller.“[7]
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter also gave the film a positive review and wrote that it “is difficult to watch, and impossible to watch without escalating anger. There isn’t easy catharsis or an easy non-Alabama solution, but it’s impossible to deny that something better must be done.”[8]
Accolades
[edit]| Award / Film Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | November 9, 2025 | Best Documentary Feature | The Alabama Solution | Nominated | [9] |
| Best True Crime Documentary | Nominated | ||||
| Best Political Documentary | Won | ||||
| Best Director | Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Page Marsella | Nominated |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/1996/cr-94-1777-0.html
- ^ Bahr, Lindsay (January 29, 2025). "Sundance Documentary "The Alabama Solution" Shows Horrifying Prison Conditions". Shoot (advertising magazine). Retrieved May 2, 2025.
On Tuesday at the first showing of the film, she had Council on the phone listening in.
- ^ "HBO Original Documentary THE ALABAMA SOLUTION Debuts October 10". Warner Bros. Discovery. September 25, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ Brennan, Matt (January 28, 2025). "With shocking secret footage, prison doc 'The Alabama Solution' should outrage the nation".
- ^ Topel, Fred (January 31, 2025). "Sundance movie review: 'Alabama Solution' an upsetting, inspiring doc". United Press International. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (January 31, 2025). "Sundance 2025: The Perfect Neighbor, The Alabama Solution, Zodiac Killer Project". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (January 29, 2025). "'The Alabama Solution' Review: Andrew Jarecki's Powerful Exposé of a Prison System Where Sanctified Lawlessness Is the Law". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (January 29, 2025). "'The Alabama Solution' Review: Powerful New Doc From 'The Jinx' Duo Investigates Injustices in Alabama Prisons". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (October 14, 2025). "'Orwell: 2+2=5' and 'The Perfect Neighbor' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2025.