DOC NYC Review: Nature Of The Crime

This year we get another shot of covering DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in America. Even though we covered it in the past we figured to start the ball rolling with a early review of one of the films that will be screening at this year's festival: Nature Of The Crime. The film will be screen in the American Program slate of the festival. Nature of the Crime is a documentary about the parole system in America and how its complex bureaucracy can place a psychological toll on the individuals trying to get out. The documentary starts in New York State where two individuals from different backgrounds committing different crimes: one was a lookout, the other murdered a teenage girl and a baby. One feels remorse and done right by living the right way even though he did not pull the trigger and the other have remorse but realizes his crime will be the sole reason that he will never be released. The documentary give us a intimate and inside view of parole interviews and interviews of the parole boards who determines who is ready to go home and have not to been rehabilitated enough. It also asks the question: Is true rehabilitation possible? Watching this film honestly won't answer the question but does gives the viewer the insight on why the parole board dictate and determine if the inmate is worthy of release. This is where the title of the film comes into play, Nature of the Crime will be the main and in some cases the sole reason why a inmate will be released no matter how good their conduct is.

Carlos Rebollo is the third inmate profiled in this film but his parole is in Connecticut and he committed his crime at the age of 15 and his hearing is in front of a panel who must determined if because of his age he could not acknowledge his crime due to his brain not mature. His situation different from the other two because of one; the state and two his acceptance of his lack of maturity. A gripping documentary that can pull on emotions very tight will make you think is the system helping or harming inmates who maybe remorseful but not in the eyes of the panel. In Connecticut where juvenile offenders have a special hearing to obtain the hearing to release. When Carlos went for the initial hearing he was able to have his sentence reduced and now trying to bring his case to be released. Seeing his family realizing that he is getting closer to be released is the feel good moment of the movie because you sense hope in the system. The issues that Nature of the Crime showcases that different states have different protocols to determine who is eligible and who isn't. This is probably what makes this film so important because the system have so many channels that a inmate do not know where to go and what is acceptable to be considered rehabilitated. Watching this will be emotional especially if you have relatives in the system waiting to be released and if you do not then you question how the states have their own protocol and different variations of rehab. Like we said the questions will be not answered in this film instead more questions will be asked and less solutions will be given. A great film that we believed is a great American story especially in this climate.

Nature of the Crime is produced by Breakthru Films and HBO Documentary Films. Directed and Produced by Ricki Stern and Jessi West. It is also disturbing by HBO.