Ghosts of Attica

Attica. Like Watergate and Vietnam, it is an icon of recent history. Gov. Rockefeller’s brutal re-taking of the prison—a nine-minute, 1600-bullet assault that took the lives of 29 inmates and 10 guards held hostage—put an end to the four-day rebellion. But the struggles for justice, by both prisoners and guards, endured for three decades. Eventually inmates wrested a historic $12-million settlement from the state, and that bittersweet victory spurred a new round of agitation by guards and their survivors. GHOSTS OF ATTICA offers a definitive account of America’s most violent prison rebellion, its suppression, and the days of torture that ensued—using exclusive, just-released images, documents, and interviews. More than just a history film, it also chronicles an unfolding contemporary story, as both inmates and guards—united by suffering, but divided by race, class, and culture—hurtle towards a final show-down with the state