| Incarceration Nation | |
| Director: | Dean Gibson |
| Producer: | Helen Morrison |
| Music: | Glen Hunt Tane Matheson Peter Thornley |
| Cinematography: | Mark Broadbent |
| Editing: | Lindi Harrison |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | $1,300,000 (estimated) |
"Incarceration Nation" is a 2021 documentary film written and directed by Dean Gibson. It examines the Australian justice system's treatment of Indigenous people, exploring the historical and contemporary factors contributing to their high incarceration rates. The film features interviews with various individuals, including activists and legal experts, providing insights into the systemic issues faced by Indigenous communities. Through personal stories and archival footage, the documentary aims to raise awareness and promote discussions about the need for justice system reforms.
Writing in the Sydney Morning, Herald Craig Mathieson gave it 4 stars and states "It’s about a country that disproportionately punishes its original inhabitants, and it is in turn unnerving, shocking, and tragic; Gibson does not blink. It captures how the system can fail the individual, and with a test program in the NSW town of Bourke how some basic improvements might actually be made."
Also in the Sydney Morning, Herald Bridget McManus gave it 4 stars. She says "the film expands with evidence that has been hiding in plain sight. With the blessing of courageous families, incredibly distressing vision of abuse and neglect at the hands of police and prison officers is relayed. Indigenous lawyers, barristers and advocates – many of them relatively new faces on television – dissect the issue, tracing it back to colonisation with appalling historical footnotes, and offer solutions."
Eddie Cockrell of the Weekend Australian wrote "Incarceration Nation is distressing and exhausting, and that may well be the point".
The film has sparked some controversy due to its unflinching portrayal of systemic racism and violence within the Australian justice system. Critics argue that the documentary's graphic content, including footage of violence against Indigenous people, can be distressing and emotionally demanding for viewers. Some believe that while the film effectively highlights the issues, it may also risk alienating audiences who are not already sympathetic to the cause.
| Year | Awards | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Logie Awards Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program | Won | |
| 2022 | BronzeLens Film Festival Award for Best Documentary | Nominated |