Connecticut Film Festival 2008

This film is a thoughtful study of the differences in people's perceptions of the same place, the same events. The park ranger is caught up in the "fun" and excitement of trying to get people together for the reunion celebration and I felt myself carried along in his generally optimistic view of the upcoming event. The interviews with former guards and inmates (most of whom don't think they want to set foot on the island again -- one former inmate, Armando Mendoza, is vehemently against the idea) brought me right back down to earth, as they talk about what a terrible place Alcatraz was. In the end, I think the film made me feel good about human beings; at least some of us are capable of change, capable of doing more than just surviving. On the one hand, it was obvious that most of the inmates at Alcatraz were hardened "incorrigibles", but it was also heartbreaking to realize that some of them were set on paths of almost life-long cycles of crime and incarceration after what seem to be unusually severe sentences for crimes like car theft when they were still very young. Although I could understand why some did not want to return, I was glad to see that they did. The meeting of Mr. Mendoza and his son came about in an unexpected way and was extremely moving. I've been to San Francisco a few times, but never to Alcatraz. Maybe next time. Maybe not.