VISIONS OF ABOLITION: FROM CRITICAL RESISTANCE TO A NEW WAY OF LIFE

Cinemavixion Review

Setsu Shigematsu's 2011 documentary, "Visions of Abolition: From Critical Resistance to a New Way of Life," offers a searing and essential examination of the prison industrial complex. Through the compelling narratives of formerly incarcerated women and prominent scholars like Angela Davis and Ruth Wilson Gilmore, the film meticulously deconstructs the historical and systemic links between slavery, capitalism, and mass incarceration. The documentary shines a vital spotlight on the tireless work of Susan Burton and her "A New Way of Life" re-entry project, presenting it as a beacon of hope and a practical model for alternatives to punitive systems. Divided into two parts, the film first dissects the pervasive nature of the prison industrial complex before moving on to explore the rich history and ongoing evolution of the prison abolition movement. "Visions of Abolition" is not merely a critique; it is an urgent call to envision and build a society that prioritizes liberation and genuine human well-being over punishment.