What I Want My Words to Do to You: Voices from Inside a Women's Maximum Security Prison (2003) Reviews

• Excellent glimpse of "who we might have been"

  irish232008-11-25

  I've done some work in prisons, so I had an intellectual understanding that prisons are a world unto themselves, with their own rules and consequences. This documentary went far beyond that, showing instead the women inside the prison sentences. While IMDb lists Hollywood "names" as the stars of this picture, the real stars are the inmates themselves, who respond to every request that Eve Ensler makes that they go deeper or look more closely at what they've done -- but more importantly, *who they are.* The greatest thing I gained from seeing this was a glimpse of the women who live inside and around the crimes. While only a starting point, it's the beginning of understanding that any of us is capable of criminal acts. But more than that, this film asks, "Then what??" As is said several times by one of the women prisoners, "life goes on." *How* does life go on? How do you live with it 6 months down the road, 6 years, 15 years? How does your perception of life and self change as you fill the hours to pass one more day, then another? This was a fascinating, poignant, moving film. The biggest drawback was the camera's/editor's love affair with Glenn Close. I agree with other reviewers that the scenes with the actresses doing beginning read-throughs were somewhat distracting, but the incessant focus on Close was downright irritating. I also thought the contrast between the inmates' readings and the actresses' readings of the same words was highly intriguing. Most of the inmates are monotone, like most people are when reading. The actresses seem almost over the top in comparison, but I'll bet it made a powerhouse performance when experienced live. If nothing else, this would be a good documentary for actors to see in order to witness the transformation of script -- plus to find some incredibly moving monologues! This is one I'll think about for a long time. I'm glad I saw it. In some small way, it has changed me.

• Excellent Way For Expression!

  mmindy42005-03-29

  I thought this film was excellent. I think it was great for Eve Ensler to allow and encourage these women to openly express themselves in a non-violent, positive and honest way. The only woman whom I found to be a total phony was Pamela Smart. She is the infamous New Hampshire seductress husband killer who got her teen lover to do her dirty work for her. When she read she took no responsibility for her actions. She told the same story she's been offering up for the last 14 years. "It was not my fault, i'm innocent, it was my co-defendants". Does this sound familiar. The thing I thought was really cool about it was that Eve Ensler, my favorite female playwright was the workshop leader. Also, another great thing was that actors, Glenn Close, Rosie Perez, Marisa Tomei, Maryalice and Hazelle Goodman gave excellent Broadway like performances. Not only did I like their performances but I also liked the discussion sessions in-between. I thought that the women being able to express themselves this way was great. The reason I think this is because most of them have not done many positive things in their in lives but this is one that they have done. I thought the "Puppy Behind Bars" program was cool. It must be nice to train these guard dogs for needy people and give back. I give this movie a 10 stars out of 10. I liked it so much that I bought my own DVD of it. I think the interview with Eve Ensler and Judith Katz was very cool and informing. I also like the full-length performances by the featured actors, because although I like hearing excerpts of things, I do like to hear them in whole too. "Thanks, Eve Ensler".

• It opened my eyes

  mmfreak872006-11-14

  I disagree with Bill. I thought this documentary was moving and did exactly what it set out to do, which was show the American public that inmates are not evil or mistakes or whatever else it is that we make them out to be. We watched this documentary in one of my classes for school, and by the end, you could see that these students were moved. This is an excellent documentary and it puts inmates in a light that is not usually shown in the media. While the subject matter is intense, I think it is a worthwhile documentary to watch. Unfortunately it is difficult to find or rent without buying it off the PBS website. I know that there are women out there who are in prison and are considered "a danger to society" but I also think that there are women who deserve another chance. These women helped show me this, they helped to open my eyes.

• Excellent Movie!

  BreanneB2005-04-28

  I love this movie. I had to buy my own DVD of it, because I love it so much. Eve Ensler is my favorite female playwright. This workshop is nice for the inmates to express themselves freely, non-violently and in a positive way. This a description of all the women: Donna Hylton: Remorseful for murder. Serving 25 to life. Anna Santana: Remorseful for murder. Serving 15 to life. Nora Moran: Remorseful for armed robbery and assault. Serving 10 to 20 years. Monica Szelkovics: Remorseful for murder and trying to convince her mother that with a sentence of 50 to life there is a strong chance she will never leave prison. Roslyn Smith: Remorseful for murder and training guard dogs. Serving 50 to life. Betsy Ramos: Remorseful for manslaughter. Serving 15 to life. Kathy Boudin and Judith Clark: Former Weather Underground Members remorseful for murder. Boudin was released after serving 22 years of her 20 to life sentence. Clark is serving 75 to life. Cynthia Berry: Extremely remorseful for murder. Serving 25 to life. Betty Harris: Extremely remorseful for manslaughter. Serving 8 1/3 to 25 years. Kelia Pulinario: Remorseful for murder. Serving 25 to life. Michelle McWilliams: Remorseful for manslaughter. serving 12 1/2 to 25 years. Migdalia Martinez: Remorseful for drugs. Released in 2000. Sentenced to 15 to life. Granted clemency. Jan Warren: Remorseful for drugs. Served 13 years of a 15 to life sentence. Granted clemency and released in 2000. Nedreys Arias: Remorseful. Shanta Striklin: Remorseful. Pamela Smart: Still a bitch and has no remorse for her crime of murder. Serving life without the possibility of parole. Thank God. Kudos to Eve Ensler, and the rest of the film makers and crew members. Two Thumbs Way Up!

• It Is Great But It Makes Some of the Inmates Look TOO SYMPATHETIC!

  apriloct2017-06-13

  I really enjoyed this film. I have always loved Eve Ensler. This film is very powerful. There is one flaw though. They made some of the inmates look TOO SYMPATHETIC. Pamela Smart and Kathy Boudin. Pamela Smart is one of the most evil people ever. Kathy Boudin is a nutcase. Eve Ensler should not have chosen those two. I hate hearing Pamela Smart deny her crimes. I hate hearing Kathy Boudin not take responsibility.