October 17, 20 for all the harrowing truth here, about race and poverty and justice, the film is brisk and tight, alive with everyday detail and flashes of humor. But this notion is an article of faith to the inspiring lawyers whose stories are told in an essential new hbo documentary called gideon s army, which premiers tonight. Code switch hbo documentary gideons army follows three public defenders working to give their clients the best representation while. I am sure all three scenarios surface in this 97 minute film. Gideons army follows the personal stories of travis williams, brandy alexander and june hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the deep south challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point. Gideons army 20 new zealand international film festival. We eliminate the root causes of the prison pipeline.
In her new film gideons army, which will open this years full frame documentary festival in durham on april 4 and air publicly on hbo this summer, lawyerturnedfilmmaker dawn porter follows the daytoday challenges of three young public defenders working in the deep south. Gideons army official soundtrack by paul brill, released 28 february 20 1. Gideons army is an eyeopening insight into a judicial hellhole world that ordinary citizens can never imagine. Gideon s army is a straightforward, eyeopening snapshot at the uncelebrated, but incredibly crucial work done by a relatively invisible population comprised of government employees. Jun 30, 20 hbos gideons army looks at three defenders of the poor. Defending the underclass, in gideons army the new york times. Gideons army is a 20 documentary film about three public defenders in the southern united states. Recently scored burma soldier hbo documentary film, featuring a collaboration with rock legends, u2.
Gideons army follows travis williams, brandy alexander and june hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the deep south challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point. Were his reduced army of 10,000 to conqueror them in spite of such great numerical superiority, the 10,000 would be acclaimed mighty men of valor. Gideon s army has garnered impressive accolades on the festival circuit thus far. Though the midianite army was vast, perhaps 5,000 or more 8. Sep 20, 20 uga school of law conference to examine indigent defense in georgia. Gideon s day originally released in the united states as gideon of scotland yard is a 1958 police procedural crime film starring jack hawkins, dianne foster and cyril cusack. Gideon s army follows travis williams, brandy alexander and june hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the deep south challenging the. Gideons army 20 dawn porter cast and crew allmovie. Recently completed, gideons army, premiering at sundance 20.
The film depicts the three public defenders in an honest way that humanizes the difficulty and importance of what they do. More than 7 million americans are in jail, on probation or on parole. Like the film itself, porters handful of devoted, charismatic attorneys do a righteous job of reminding people that the accused are innocent until. Gideons army has garnered impressive accolades on the festival circuit thus far. It was released in the united states as gideon of scotland yard.
Opinion true believers in justice the new york times. Long hours, low pay and staggering caseloads are so common that even the most committed often give up. The film also features jonathan rapping and the folks at gideons promise known formerly as the southern public defender training center, who appear to serve as equal parts mentors, senseis. The movie also points out the flaws in our justice system, just in case you werent already outraged about that. Sep 20, 20 through a series of four panel discussions and a screening of the 20 hbo film gideons army, the conference will address georgias current public defender system, which is now in its ninth. Sep 19, 20 through a series of four panel discussions and a screening of the 20 hbo film gideons army, the conference will address georgias current public defender system, which is now in its ninth year of operation. Feb 27, 2014 more than 7 million americans are in jail, on probation or on parole. The toughest place to be a public defender is the american south, and that just so happens to be where dawn porters documentary gideons army takes place. Gideons army follows travis williams, brandy alexander, and june hardwick, three public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the deep south who are challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point. In the film, williams and two other defenders reveal. Gideons army is a bare film with no narrator and a minimal soundtrack. Travis williams, brandy alexander, and june hardwick. Gideons army confronts this crisis headon, tracking a group of young southern public defenders hellbent on protecting the sanctity of human liberty.
Hbos gideons army looks at three defenders of the poor. Jul 03, 20 gideons army focuses primarily upon the lives of three public defenders in the american south. Most states responded by creating offices for public defenders to defend poor people charged with serious crimes. Uga school of law conference to examine indigent defense in. Gideons army is a documentary film that tears the rusted lid off of the justice system to expose the hidden truths behind why lady justice wears a tear stained blindfold. Follows three young, committed public defenders who are dedicated to working for the people society would rather forget. Gideon s army is a documentary film that tears the rusted lid off of the justice system to expose the hidden truths behind why lady justice wears a tear stained blindfold. A panel of newer public defenders will address the difficulties of their daytoday work. Three young, idealistic public defenders in the deep south struggle against long hours, low pay and staggering caseloads to ensure justice is served for americas forgotten poor.
Code switch hbo documentary gideons army follows three public defenders working to give their clients the best representation while juggling hundreds of cases for little compensation. Gideon s army the 20 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. The title of the film refers to the landmark case of gideon v. Gideon s army profiles the struggles our nations publiclyfunded defense attorneys undergo in order to defend those guilty or not that without free legal counsel. The soldiers of gideons army, dawn porters stirring debut documentary, are public defenders lawyers who dedicate themselves to representing the indigent, and regularly answering the question, how can you defend those people. Gideons army, a film by dawn porter which portrays the lives of three young public defenders working in the south, opens this years full frame documentary festival in durham on april 4, 20, at 7. Overall, gideons army is an eyeopening insight into a judicial hellhole world that ordinary citizens can never imagine. Dawn porter documents the struggles of public defenders in the south in gideons army. Our mission is to act collectively, boldly and strategically as a unified force for all children. Jul 1, 20 a while back, i worked in the texas senate, for a senator from houston whose committee assignments had me learning about the. Taut, visceral filmmaking plunges us into the unbelievably demanding lives of three fledgling public defenders in georgia and mississippi. Its title comes from gideon v wainwright, which required that indigent criminal defendants be offered counsel a. Dawn porter documents the struggles of public defenders in the south in gideon s army. The film, which was directed by john ford, was adapted from john creasey s novel of the same name.