40 Years a Prisoner

A progressively compelling documentary, 40 Years a Prisoner follows activist Mike Africa Jr. as he tirelessly works to exonerate his parents, both of whom were imprisoned due mostly to their status as members of the revolutionary group MOVE. Filmmaker Tommy Oliver devotes much of 40 Years a Prisoner‘s first half to exploring MOVE’s history and the violence that eventually ended it, and while much of this stuff is admittedly fascinating, there does reach a point at which the relentless barrage of information becomes exhausting and somewhat overwhelming. (The ongoing inclusion of standout images and sequences, including an intense interlude focused on the videotaped beating of a MOVE member, goes a long way towards compensating for the palpably overlong atmosphere.) It’s clear, then, that the context provided by this portion of the proceedings ensures that the eventual emphasis on Africa Jr. and his tireless quest packs a more pronounced emotional punch than one might’ve anticipated, and it’s hard to deny, ultimately, that 40 Years a Prisoner‘s closing stretch is moving and satisfying in ways that can’t be understated – which does, in the final analysis, confirm the film’s place as an erratic yet necessary endeavor that couldn’t possibly be more timely.

*** out of ****

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