"Beyond Bars is one of Greenwald’s most heartfelt and finest films, imaginatively uniting the personal and political." - Progressive | "That combination of Boudin’s personal story and advocacy for others impacted by mass incarceration — especially people of color — are at the heart of the documentary." - The Chicago Sun Times | “Riveting” and “deeply personal”, "A powerful, personal, provocative film and profile of the cycles of trauma in America" - Hollywood Progressive | “Illustrates the universal pain of family separation” - The San Francisco Standard
Racialized Mass Incarceration • Family Separation • Coalition and Community Building • Progressive Reform
Date of Completion: 2023 | Run Time: 98 minutes | Language: English | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript | Director: Robert Greenwald | Producers: Robert Greenwald & Casey Cooper Johnson | Co-Producers: Deborah Correa & Sean O'Brien | Associate Producers: Tatiana Garnett & Noely Mendoza
Chesa Boudin was only 14 months old when his parents, former Weather Underground activists, were arrested for their role in a fatal robbery. BEYOND BARS follows his profound journey. Witness the impact of parental incarceration through Chesa's eyes as he navigates a broken system and grapples with his identity. With searing honesty, the film traces Chesa's path from childhood struggles to becoming a voice for the children of the incarcerated and a trailblazing District Attorney fighting for reform. Intimate interviews and rare archival footage offer an unflinching look at the human toll of incarceration and the power of resilience. Through Chesa's battle for his parents' freedom and his efforts to transform the carceral system, BEYOND BARS is a testament to the unbreakable bonds of family and the intergenerational fight for equality and restorative justice.
The Progressive | Ed Rampell
"Beyond Bars is one of Greenwald’s most heartfelt and finest films, imaginatively uniting the personal and political."
The Chicago Sun Times | By Erica Thompson
"That combination of Boudin’s personal story and advocacy for others impacted by mass incarceration — especially people of color — are at the heart of the documentary."
Hollywood Progressive | Steven Rosenfeld
“Riveting” and “deeply personal”
"A powerful, personal, provocative film and profile of the cycles of trauma in America"
The San Francisco Standard | By Christina Campodonico
“Illustrates the universal pain of family separation”
SCREENINGS
Private premieres/screenings were held in Portland, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.