A new documentary set to premiere on Oprah's cable network OWN tonight, which will run for the next few weeks, gives what critics are calling "a beautiful look" into hospice care at the Louisiana State Penitentiary-Angola. The prison, in many cases, uses inmates as hospice volunteers to visit dying inmates. As the film's director, Lisa Cohen said:
“Looking for humanity in the darkest of places has always been something that fascinated me. That’s why I keep going back to Angola, the worst of the worst, when you get down to it, they surprise you. It doesn’t mean you should trust them. It doesn’t mean you should let them out. I’m not someone who believes you should open the doors and let all those guys out. I think that if you give someone an opportunity to do good, under the right circumstances they will, and they will get something profound out of it. They will rise to the occasion.”
Hospice strives to affirm the humanity of patients, families, and volunteers at all times, regardless of where they are - in prison or in a mansion.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune has more information, along with a trailer, on the documentary.
