The Alabama Solution
| The Alabama Solution | |
|---|---|
| File:The Alabama Solution poster.jpg 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 | edit source] | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2025) |
Participants
[edit | edit source]- Robert Earl Council, serving life sentence for murder[1]
- Melvin Ray
- Sandy Ray
Release
[edit | edit source]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 | edit source]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 | edit source]| 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 | |||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | February 28, 2026 | Best Documentary | Andrew Jarecki, Charlotte Kaufman, Alelur "Alex" Duran and Beth Shelburne | Pending | [10] |
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/1996/cr-94-1777-0.html
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- The Alabama Solution at IMDbLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- The Alabama Solution at Rotten TomatoesLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).