Known for his razor sharp ability to transform political issues into compelling narratives, Eugene Jarecki’s latest documentary—winner of the coveted Sundance Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary—takes a penetrating look at America’s War on Drugs. Since its inception 40 years ago, over 45 million arrests have been made, turning the United States into the world’s largest jailer. Millions of lives have been lost or wasted; families and impoverished communities have been destroyed; but yet drugs are more available than ever before. From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, the film shares the stories of individuals at all levels involved in the problem of drugs in our society, including the filmmaker’s touching personal example of his childhood nanny’s family. Comprehensive in scope and brilliant in its thesis, The House I Live In asks questions that not many are willing to ask…or answer as it hopefully considers how to effect change. (U.S., 2012, 110m). Q&A with Producer David Kuhn immediately following.
