Serving Life

Serving Life is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary film that follows the stories of inmate hospice volunteers at Louisiana's maximum-security Angola prison. The film centers around the Angola Prison Hospice Program, a first-of-its-kind program that provides end-of-life care to prisoners who are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.

The film opens with an introduction to the hospice program by its founder, Dr. Clarence Mohr, who explains that the program was created to provide compassionate care to prisoners who are dying in prison, without burdening the state's already overtaxed healthcare system. The film then introduces us to the inmate volunteers, who are themselves serving life sentences and have chosen to spend their time helping others facing the same fate.

One of the main subjects of the film is a man named Robert King, who spent 29 years in solitary confinement before being released in 2001. King is now an activist and advocate for prison reform, and he is one of the hospice program's most dedicated volunteers. He is shown working closely with the dying prisoners, helping them to come to terms with their imminent death and offering them comfort in their final days.

Another volunteer is an inmate named Miguel Alvarez, who was convicted of murder at the age of 19 and has been in Angola prison for over two decades. Alvarez is shown caring for a fellow inmate who is dying of lung cancer, and he talks about the impact that his work in the hospice program has had on his own outlook on life and death.

Forest Whitaker narrates the film, and his deep voice adds to the gravitas of the subject matter. The cinematography is stark, showing the harsh reality of life in a maximum-security prison, but it is also beautiful at times, capturing the natural beauty of the Louisiana landscape and the moments of compassion and humanity that are on display throughout the film.

One of the most moving scenes in the film is when the hospice volunteers are asked to wash and prepare the body of a fellow inmate who has just died. The scene is difficult to watch, but it is a poignant reminder of the humanity that still exists in even the darkest of places.

Overall, Serving Life is a powerful and important film that sheds light on a little-known but incredibly impactful program. It shows that even in the darkest of places, there is still hope and compassion to be found. The film is a call to action for viewers to support prison reform and to recognize the importance of end-of-life care for all people, regardless of their past mistakes.