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Reviews Counted:22
Fresh:18
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: This thoughtful if rough hewn doc about death row inmates who discover Buddhism inspires hope that all of us are worthy of redemption.
Theatrical Release:Apr 11, 2008 Limited
Synopsis: East meets West in the Deep South. An overcrowded maximum-security prison—the end of the line in Alabama’s correctional system—is forever changed by the influence of an ancient meditation program.... [More]
Director: Jenny Phillips, Andrew Kukura, Anne Marie Stein
The film presents an intimate, compassionate and sympathetic portrait of a group of individuals that much of society has written off as savage and brutal and who reconnect to their humanity through the act of meditation.
An example of advocacy filmmaking at its most inspired.
Takes you on a thrilling and hopeful voyage through a very dark place.
Top Critic(W)hat many will remember about this otherwise informative film is the way in which we get to know these men.
Though compelling as far as it goes, a little more skepticism and drama would have made for a more engaging film and enhanced its message.
If nothing else, it might change stereotypical perceptions about convicts and prison life.
A remarkable documentary about inmates at an Alabama prison who do a 10-day silent meditation retreat which opens them to the experience of inner peace and compassion.
A sort of cross between The Shawshank Redemption and an episode of MSNBC's Lockup, the intriguing documentary The Dhamma Brothers makes a cogent case for prisoner rehabilitation over, as one inmate here bluntly puts it, being 'warehoused till you die'.
The Dhamma Brothers offers a constructive alternative to the hopelessness of human warehousing.
Top CriticThe film, which focuses primarily on four individuals, is unusually effective at finding the humanity inside men usually reviled as monsters -- not least by themselves.
Examines the before and after mindsets of hardened cons converted to an Eastern spiritual path.
It's a truly inspirational piece of documentary filmmaking bolstered by a fine soundtrack featuring the music of Low, New Order and Sigur Ros.
Penetrating study of hardened prisoner's discovering their humane essence through training sessions in Buddhism.
The thoughtfulness and humanity of these inmates is a potent reminder that there's almost no such thing as a lost cause.
Subject matter definitely trumps stylistic nuance in this solid journeyman effort.
There's one image you're likely to take away from this mind-boggling documentary. It's of rows and rows of men dressed completely in white and seated cross-legged on royal blue mats.
Top CriticMost of these men will never know freedom beyond prison walls, but they have learned liberation from within.
A sincere but unevenly made documentary about Buddhism on death row.
The film does a poor job of explaining the discipline or how it works, and naively takes the convicts' testimonials at face value.
There's no doubt that the Brothers are a compelling bunch, but their story isn't well served here.
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.
TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.
Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.
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