DOXA 2015 review: Florence, Arizona

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      The numbers that inspired Florence, Arizona promise a fascinating case study of the United States’ prison industrial complex. The town has a civilian population of 9,500 residents who are literally surrounded by nine prisons housing some 17,000 inmates.

      “It is our economy,” says correctional officer Gunny Jackson. “We do a job that nobody else wanted to do. And it’s got to be done.”

      Unfortunately, Andrea Scott’s sophomore directorial effort never gets inside the problem it spends 80 minutes alluding to. What effect does such a large and depressing force have on the town? Who benefits from this situation and how much money is up for grabs? What led to the construction of so many prisons in one place?

      The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country on Earth and Florence, Arizona could have provided some understanding of a notable microcosm borne by that fact. Instead, it serves as little more than a satisfactory portrait of anywhere Smalltown, USA.

      Cinematheque, May 4 (6 p.m.) 

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