‘The Alabama Solution’ Exposes Brutal Realities of Alabama’s Prison System at Sundance

Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman's documentary uses inmate-filmed footage to reveal inhumane conditions and systemic abuse in Alabama prisons.

The documentary, directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim and a standing ovation.
The film highlights shocking conditions in Alabama prisons, including overcrowding, violence, forced labor, and unsanitary environments, as documented by inmates using contraband cellphones.
Incarcerated activists Melvin Ray and Robert Earl Council risked severe retaliation to expose abuses, including beatings and systemic neglect, while advocating for prison reform.
The film critiques Alabama’s resistance to federal intervention, noting the state’s diversion of COVID-19 relief funds to build new prisons rather than address systemic issues.
Planned for an HBO release later this year, the film aims to drive awareness and reform, emphasizing the broader national implications of prison abuses across the United States.