Short eyes 1977-
Content warning
This and many 70’s films that hold a magnifying glass up to some sick shite, that could be very triggering to some.
I personally find it important but exhausting, I am grateful for those who struggled to share this stuff with us, but it is not something I can do everyday. Pretty obviously if you have not seen this
I suggest watching before watching it with us. And before you do that, know this.
Short eyes is a very strong honest film about prison written by someone who was there and performed on stage first, then in this film, by people who had survived the horrible dehumanizing conditions that caused 1,281 of the about 2,200 inmates to revolt and take over a section of Attica state prison. Crying out for needed changes in the horrid prison system only to be massacred by state troopers sanctioned by the governor who was sanctioned by the president, but that is another story. We’ll get to that. Short eyes is another cry. It does not pull punches. Anyone truly interested in learning about institutionalized racism, class struggle, struggle! These people fought, struggled, and survived, to tell this story to you. Miguel Pinero writer of short eyes and actor in the film (who at several times in this podcast is accidentally referred to as Hugo Pinell a political prisoner. My apologies for the mix up) is the focus of a great documentary titled “pinero” which is also highly recommended.
Also recommended is Actor Bruce Davidson’s interview on the blu ray edition as well as the audio commentary with director Robert young and Pinero director Leon Ichaso.
