Short Eyes

Based on a Tony nominated play, this obscure film version is crude, tough stuff about life in the NY Tombs, as the Manhattan Detention Center was known then. And it is an appropriate name for a terrible, seemingly corrupt institution. Despite the acclaim, the play only ran for 80 performances, so it wasn't a hit and surely this grainy little seen film wasn't either, but it's well worth watching if you're up for it. It has a slim storyline of a young white pedophile entering for the first time a facility of mostly hardened Hispanic and Black prisoners and how they do or don't accept him. I say slim storyline as most of the film is simply showing us life in this prison, the inmates and their relationships with each other. It ain't pretty. Most of the people in this all male cast have multiple acting credits, which surprised me as they all seem like the real deal. There is not a performance that doesn't ring true. Miguel Pinero was a prisoner at one time, and I suspect so were most of the cast, and while there he wrote this play though his life was short. He also appears in this film and like the rest, is very authentic. I don't know if this film really has a message other than stay the hell out of jail!