| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 16, 2011

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 4, 2011

An example of advocacy filmmaking at its most inspired.

| Jun 13, 2008

The thoughtfulness and humanity of these inmates is a potent reminder that there's almost no such thing as a lost cause.

| Original Score: B | May 16, 2008

A sincere but unevenly made documentary about Buddhism on death row.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 16, 2008

Most of these men will never know freedom beyond prison walls, but they have learned liberation from within.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 9, 2008

A sort of cross between The Shawshank Redemption and an episode of MSNBC's Lockup, the intriguing documentary The Dhamma Brothers makes a cogent case for prisoner rehabilitation over, as one inmate here bluntly puts it, being 'warehoused till you die'.

| May 9, 2008

Though compelling as far as it goes, a little more skepticism and drama would have made for a more engaging film and enhanced its message.

Full Review | May 9, 2008

The film does a poor job of explaining the discipline or how it works, and naively takes the convicts' testimonials at face value.

| Original Score: C | May 8, 2008

There's one image you're likely to take away from this mind-boggling documentary. It's of rows and rows of men dressed completely in white and seated cross-legged on royal blue mats.

| Original Score: 3/4 | May 2, 2008

Beyond the visual novelty of murderers and rapist sitting in silent practice, The Dhamma Brothers seems to be interested in surprisingly little.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 15, 2008

If nothing else, it might change stereotypical perceptions about convicts and prison life.

| Apr 15, 2008

(W)hat many will remember about this otherwise informative film is the way in which we get to know these men.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 12, 2008

It's a truly inspirational piece of documentary filmmaking bolstered by a fine soundtrack featuring the music of Low, New Order and Sigur Ros.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 11, 2008

Not polished enough to spread, or strike a nerve, within the wider moviegoing community.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 11, 2008

The Dhamma Brothers offers a constructive alternative to the hopelessness of human warehousing.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 11, 2008

A remarkable documentary about inmates at an Alabama prison who do a 10-day silent meditation retreat which opens them to the experience of inner peace and compassion.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Apr 11, 2008

Takes you on a thrilling and hopeful voyage through a very dark place.

| Apr 11, 2008

The film presents an intimate, compassionate and sympathetic portrait of a group of individuals that much of society has written off as savage and brutal and who reconnect to their humanity through the act of meditation.

| Apr 9, 2008

Subject matter definitely trumps stylistic nuance in this solid journeyman effort.

| Apr 8, 2008