Prior to watching this brilliant film, all I knew about Ruben Carter was from hearing the famous Dylan song “The Hurricane”.
On one hand, this is a film based on the true story of an innocent man who became the victim of racial prejudice and found guilty of murder in the first degree on three counts. But on the other, Ruben is also imprisoned by his own hatred and prejudice on the psychological level.
Through sharing his story, he touches the heart of teenage boy, whose desire to help Ruben is infectious, and rubs off on those around him.
Prison is a wonderful metaphor for chronic disease, by the way, especially when we are watching the story of an innocent person, as with another of my favourites, The Shawshank Redemption.
GD Bates 