Washington, D.C. Film Festival
- Mario's Story
- Director: Susan Koch & Jeff Werner
Documentary. 2006. USA. 98 min. English.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature, 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival.
In 1998, Mario Rocha, a young Latino kid from East LA, was convicted of murder and attempted murder on the basis of one eyewitness identification and no physical evidence. He was 16 years old at the time of his arrest, yet tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. While in Juvenile Hall waiting two years for his trial, Mario discovered his talent for writing. This powerful film interweaves Mario's story and writings as an inmate in one of California's toughest prisons, with the efforts of an unexpected group of people who have come together to overturn his conviction. Mario's chances of regaining his freedom are less than one percent. For seven years, the filmmakers were given unprecedented access to film inside Calipatria State Prison as well as the behind-the-scenes legal efforts. While the film raises serious questions about our criminal justice system as it follows the often discouraging but determined efforts to win Mario's freedom, it is also a deeply moving and inspiring story. Mario's own personal growth in prison reveals how even under the worst conditions, the human spirit can rise and reach out to others.
[Image copyright Cabin Films]
Official Website
- Showings
Saturday, September 16 at 5:00pm – National Geographic Society Headquarters
East Coast Premiere