"Bruton:" When Prison Steals More Than Freedom

We are currently in the last few days of the Locarno Film Festival, one of the most prestigious entertainment events in Europe. Not only does Locarno screen favorites from past festivals like Cannes and Tribeca, it also sees the premieres of new feature films we will be talking about this upcoming award season! One notable feature film this year was Bruton, a biopic about how one man's life was turned upside down by a tragic accident and how love and determination still persevere in the darkest of times.

In the early 2000's, Bryan Bruton was a man living in Jacksonville with his wife, Sienna and young daughter, Crystal. To make a living, he dealt drugs while trying to start a legitimate dirt and gravel business. One night, a fight between him and a client goes south and a tragic accident occurs, landing Bruton with a manslaughter conviction and a ten year prison sentence. Filmmaker, Vincent Grashaw set out to tell Bryan's story with his newest feature, Bruton, starring Theo Rossi, Tammy Blanchard, Aya Cash and Tony Hale.

Bruton is far from your average true crime movie. It has a vibe very similar to HBO's Oz mixed with the charismatic narration of Goodfellas. Sons of Anarchy alum, Theo Rossi plays the titular role and his performance is the lifeblood of this film, appearing in virtually every frame. He approaches each line with an effortless charm and humility; Rossi is simply magnetic. Despite having a very heavy subject matter the film does a great job at staying lighthearted when needed, it's not just an endless slog.

While there is a lot of action and humor in this film, the real merit comes from Bryan's heartfelt dynamic with his daughter, Crystal. It's easy to feel their bond as well as the pain and frustration that comes with having a family member incarcerated. It's easy to make prison and the criminal life seem "cool" and cinematic but Bruton shows the harsh truth of the American prison system. In 11 years Bryan was transferred between 10 Florida prisons, spending a considerable amount of time in solitary confinement. All this for an accident. In the end, the most devastating loss was of the time between a father and daughter. Bruton will be an emotional watch for any family affected by the American prison system.

Bruton starts hot and heavy, bombarding the audience with information paired with fast-paced editing and brief character introductions. However, there are moments when the film begins to lose momentum, especially after such a fast-paced first act. After a while, all the prison time seems tedious but it didn't take me long to realize...that's the point. Serving time is hard, it's boring, it's frustrating, and at the end of the day boils down to just...waiting. The wasted time is the real punishment, especially when prisoners have family on the outside. While some may view this as inconsistent pacing, it feels overwhelmingly intentional and I have come to appreciate it as its own storytelling device.

It's clear that filmmaker, Vincent Grashaw cares a lot about telling Bryan's story, serving not only as the film's director but also writer, producer, and editor. Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman's documentary, The Alabama Solution exposed the harsh reality of the American Prison system, Bruton on the other hand approaches the subject with a much more delicate hand, showing the audience that these men in the orange jumpsuits aren't just numbers, they're individuals with their own stories.

Bruton is not only a fun cinematic experience but an emotional rollercoaster that will hopefully draw more attention to these seldom-told stories, crafted behind bars.