Connecticut Film Festival 2008

Haunting...Chilling...Scared stiff... The most memorable person in this film was Armando Mendoza, prisoner #1283AZ. He looks remarkably young and refreshed for his 70 plus years of living, especially as an ex con from Alcatraz, north America’s most famous prison known for its crude and evil past. Mr. Mendoza’s prison memories gives the viewer such a personal insight throughout the fllm, you feel like you are back in time with him, right back in his tiny cell. He’s seen some of the most vicious murders anyone should never have to witness. Another notable scene is when one of the ex guards talks about his first day at Alcatraz. He was in the prison barber shop. The barber actually killed an inmate right in the chair with a pair of shears. he recalls how the prison offilcials banned the use of cuttinhg shears, thus switching to electric razors, hmmm.... I was also really surprised to see so many prisoners that were still alive and turned their lives around. Some had children and grandchildren that seemed to be well adjusted. Mr. Mendoza’s son didn’t even know his dad was an ex con, let alone one from Alcatraz as Mr. Mendoza vowed to never come back. Perhaps coming back to Alcatraz was a way for the former prisoners to let them know that somehow good can sometimes prevail from evil. I bet that most people upon seeing this film will be prompted to book a flight to San Francisco to visit Alcatraz. Visitors getting off the boat back to shore seemd almost speechless. Perhaps it was the spririts of lives past beckoning to be freed one last time...