Analysis Of The Film 'Concrete'

The documentary Concrete. Steel & Paint shows the repercussions of crime through the perspective of both perpetrators and victims. Directors Bernstein and Heriza (2009) brought advocates, victims of crime and perpetrators together in an effort to promote healing and restorations between the groups. Although the process provided some insight to perpetrators on how victims are impacted by their crimes and the pain perpetrators go through, there was some push back throughout that made the project more difficult.

Documentary Topics Jane Golden, the director of the Philadelphia Arts Program was invited to Grateford State Prison to conduct an art seminar with some of the 4,000 prisoners within the facility that are artists (Bernstein & Heriza,

The victims and the advocates of the project did not feel as if the right message was coming across from the inmates as they felt it was not appropriate to ask victims for forgiveness (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). Victims wanted to show the pain they go through on the mural with a glimpse of hope when a victim overcomes what they went through (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). At the time of painting the murals, advocates and victims went to the prison to help the inmates paint their mural. This was a great way to “break down barriers” between the groups as they were all seen as human beings opposed to an “us versus them” mentality (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). One advocate stated that she can become very fixed in her views after working with and understanding the victim’s perspective and hardships (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). Working with the inmates allowed for the advocate to see that perpetrators have feelings and hardships as well and helped the perpetrators to see how their actions hurt individuals and the community as a whole (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). One perpetrator stated that he would see the face of the man he killed every night before he went to bed and used that as a way to remember what he had done and accept the consequences of his actions (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). Such

Although it is studied and deeply researched by criminologists, the general public may not generally think about the victimization that inmates have gone through. Advocates and victims of crime were able to have a better understanding of how these inmates victimized themselves and in response, committed acts of violence (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). An inmate shared that he had been sexually abused for much of his childhood which made him feel angry and not understand why such a crime was done to him (Bernstein & Heriza, 2009). In response to that victimization, he began to engage in violent crime which resulted in his admission into the high security Philadelphia prison (Bernstein & Heriza,