Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Dhamma Brothers

Play trailer Poster for The Dhamma Brothers 2008 1h 16m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In 2002, psychotherapist Jenny Phillips begins intensive meditation retreats for inmates at a maximum-security prison in rural Alabama. Based on the principles of Vipassana meditation, the 10-day retreats are conducted in total silence. This documentary explores the lives of four convicted murderers before, during and after the arduous retreats, as well as reactions from residents of the nearby town of Bessemer, many of whom object to the program on religious or social grounds.

Where to Watch

The Dhamma Brothers

The Dhamma Brothers

What to Know

Critics Consensus

This thoughtful if rough hewn doc about death row inmates who discover Buddhism inspires hope that all of us are worthy of redemption.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader 06/13/2008
An example of advocacy filmmaking at its most inspired. Go to Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe 05/16/2008
2.5/4
A sincere but unevenly made documentary about Buddhism on death row. Go to Full Review Tom Keogh Seattle Times 05/09/2008
3/4
Most of these men will never know freedom beyond prison walls, but they have learned liberation from within. Go to Full Review Dave White Movies.com 04/04/2011
3.5/5
Marc Mohan Oregonian 05/16/2008
B
The thoughtfulness and humanity of these inmates is a potent reminder that there's almost no such thing as a lost cause. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
07/14/2019 Beautiful and inspiring. The beauty of the human soul. See more 02/17/2013 Another good documentary about trying something different, meditation to inmates who have been in prison for doing horrific crimes. Others in the street who are Christian, tend to dismiss this program because its something that they don't believe. If the people are paying taxes for this prisoners, having programs like this can make such a big difference but also to those who might get out to the world again. Most of those prisoners return back to prison because they're not accepted and are not mentally ready to experience the real world again. Quite interesting if they starting doing this in almost all prisons. See more 12/07/2012 Inspiring human transformation...in such an unlikely place. It fills me with hope for humanity. See more 09/05/2012 This is a great film. See more 08/19/2012 Powerful and inspirational stuff. See more 06/19/2012 Yes! This is Spiritual and Cultural Evolution in Action!! Sadhu! __/|\__ See more Read all reviews
The Dhamma Brothers

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Jenny Phillips

Director

Andrew Kukura

Director

Anne Marie Stein

Director

Jonathan Crowley

Actor

Jenny Phillips

Writer

Bestor Cram

Executive Producer

More Like This

View All
Over the Hills and Far Away 76% 75% Over the Hills and Far Away Watchlist Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo 43% 71% Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo Watchlist Summercamp! 78% 53% Summercamp! Watchlist The Business of Being Born 81% 85% The Business of Being Born Watchlist Thin 100% 84% Thin Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

The Dhamma Brothers

The Dhamma Brothers (2008) A scene from the film "The Dhamma Brothers." A scene from the film "The Dhamma Brothers." A scene from the film "The Dhamma Brothers." A scene from the film "The Dhamma Brothers." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 2002, psychotherapist Jenny Phillips begins intensive meditation retreats for inmates at a maximum-security prison in rural Alabama. Based on the principles of Vipassana meditation, the 10-day retreats are conducted in total silence. This documentary explores the lives of four convicted murderers before, during and after the arduous retreats, as well as reactions from residents of the nearby town of Bessemer, many of whom object to the program on religious or social grounds.
Director
Jenny Phillips, Andrew Kukura, Anne Marie Stein
Producer
Jenny Phillips, Anne Marie Stein
Screenwriter
Jenny Phillips
Distributor
Third Rail
Production Co
Northern Light Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.4K
Runtime
1h 16m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings