Rent Brubaker (1980)

Power Corrupts - Brubaker review by Steve

Passionate Hollywood left polemic based on the real life experiences of a reformist prison warden in Arkansas, US and the astonishing crimes he uncovered, including rows of unmarked graves. These farm penitentiaries were intended to make money and were mostly run for the benefit of the board and parasitic suppliers.

The administration of the prison was mainly left to armed trusties who were themselves serving sentences. The level of corruption is scarcely credible and this institution was eventually closed after some jailbirds sued the state! Anyone committed to the idea of making public institutions self funding should refer to this case.

The strap and worse tortures were still in use. Robert Redford is probably no one's idea of a prison warden, but at least his star power brought attention to such obscenities. The Oscar nominated original screenplay is outstanding and there are convincing support performances, including an early role for Morgan Freeman.

The new boss sets about cleaning the place up, which is gratifying to watch; if only life was really like this! The system is run for the benefit those who enforce it, rather than the stated intention... This is an incredibly powerful, righteous denunciation which might usefully serve as an allegory for any public institution run for profit.