A Place To Stand

A Place To Stand

By Daniel Glick

  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release Date: 2016-06-17
  • Advisory Rating: Unrated
  • Runtime: 1h 23min
  • Director: Daniel Glick
  • iTunes Price: USD 9.99
  • iTunes Rent Price: USD 3.99

Description

Is it ever too late to turn your life around? For Jimmy Santiago Baca, it seemed every day was his point of no return. Before he could even learn to read, he was abandoned by family, swept into a life of crime, and shipped away to Arizona State Prison. At every turn, Jimmy was alone, until one kind act changed how he saw the world, and himself.A Place to Stand is the amazing true story of how Jimmy Santiago Baca —a man with seemingly no future— became a celebrated teacher, poet, novelist, and screenwriter. Based on the memoir of the same name, A Place to Stand takes viewers into Jimmy’s past and present to uncover how the power of the written word lifted him from the violence and pain that defined his early life. With powerful revelations from family, friends, and fellow inmates, as well as incredible insight into the early writings that first captured Jimmy’s imagination, audiences learn why it’s never too late to turn your life around – as long as you have a place to stand.

Reviews

  • Outstanding

    5
    By Tankor the destroyer
    If you like true stories that will blow your mind, look no further. The life and transformation of this man is unlike anything else. It's a rollercoaster of emotions from beginning to end and keeps your heart and soul in suspense at every turn. I couldn't recommend this movie any higher to documentary lovers
  • Accurately depicts the contrast of the human heart & the cold steel of the justice system

    5
    By marbelore1991
    The story of Jimmy Baca immediately takes you in. Throughout the piece, he unflinchingly tells the story of a harsh upbringing and survival in a dehumanizing prison environment, both in an interview setting and through the beauty of his written words. The bits and pieces of the story come together with well-selected music and imagery that allow for sentimentality and evoke a true sense of the kind of imagining a real human mind does when it clings onto whatever memories of happiness -- however faint -- it has in order to survive a seemingly impossible circumstance. The payoff is being able to witness a human evolve from despair to hope to self possession through the discovery of the creative process. This is an iconic story about the importance of rehabilitation and the harsh facts of imprisonment in America.
  • Inspiring Life

    5
    By earlington
    A testament to being able to get through the darkest parts of yourself. Jimmy didn't give in and he didn't break. He found poetry, and it saved him. It made me go out and get a book of his short stories. I had never heard of him before, and this film made me interested in his journey.
  • This Movie Makes America Great

    5
    By mj13
    I met Jimmy Baca when I was a junior in college through my work with the Prison Creative Arts Project at the University of Michigan. He would disagree with me for saying this, but he interacts with people, with all people, as if they are truly something special and worth his time. I don't know how Daniel Glick and his team pulled this off, but you can feel that emanate through this film. It reminds you of the core uniqueness of being human: the ability to write poetry and to tell stories. It transforms us, it is the only way we discover who we truly are. This movie is not just about learning to write from a prison cell. This movie is about learning to find a voice, and in that regard, it is for each and every one of us.
  • Riveting

    5
    By Eggs19811
    This beautifully filmed and edited film tells the unforgettable story of Jimmy Santiago Baca’s transformation from an illiterate convict to one of the foremost living American poets. The director’s care and craft are evident, and Jimmy’s own descriptions of his journey will stay with you for years to come. A brave and memorable film!
  • ***WOW, INSPIRING***

    5
    By TS Rock it
    ***WOW, INSPIRING*** This a well made documentary of a amazing journey of a man rising from the ashes of life and becoming something great despite his adversity. If you are looking for a great story to lift your spirits and inspire you to do great things in your life, you must watch this.
  • Beautiful

    5
    By Poet001
    This film moved me so deeply. An exploration of poetry, the amazing power of words, the awesome strength of the human spirit and one man's remarkable life. The film allows the poet and his poems to speak for themselves and provides a beautiful container, a good balance of story, image and poetry. I thought about it for days afterward.
  • So Inspiring!

    5
    By chasmaun
    Long before this movie came out, I fell in love with Jimmy Santiago Baca's poetry. His story is amazing, and inspiring. I used the book and film in my classroom. I have tough kids, deep in poverty, struggling with enormous personal problems. They connect to Mr. Baca's story. They see themselves in his life. The movie brought everything full circle for my students. It gave them a chance not only to hear the story again, but to be face to face with Mr. Baca and hear it from his own mouth. I have seen the change in my students. I have felt the change in my teaching. I commend Mr. Baca and I thank the filmmakers for bringing such an inspiring story to life. It does and will change lives.

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