The House I Live In (2012)

From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.

Director:

Eugene Jarecki

Writers:

Eugene Jarecki, Christopher St. John (additional writing)

Stars:

Eugene Jarecki, David Simon, Shanequa Benitez

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eugene Jarecki	...	Self - Narrator / Interviewer
David Simon	...	Self - Creator, The Wire
Shanequa Benitez	...	Self
William Julius Wilson	...	Self - Harvard University (as Prof. William Julius Wilson)
Glendon Goldsboro	...	Self - Providence Police (as Lt. Glendon Goldsboro)
Fabio Zuena	...	Self - Providence Narcotics
David Kennedy	...	Self - John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Michael Correia	...	Self - Commanding Officer, Narcotics (as Lt. Michael Correia)
Charles Bowden	...	Self - Investigative Reporter
Gabor Mate	...	Self - Physician, Addiction Expert (as Dr. Gabor Maté)
Mark W. Bennett	...	Self - U.S. Federal Judge (as Hon. Mark Bennett)
Maurice Haltiwanger	...	Self - ID# 03678-029
Jim K. McGough	...	Self - Maurice's Lawyer (as Jim McGough)
Eric Franklin	...	Self - Lexington Corrections Center (as Warden Eric Franklin)
Mike Carpenter	...	Self - Chief of Security, Lexington Corrections

Storyline

From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.

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Plot Keywords:

u.s. mexico border | despair | american history | judge | federal judge | 

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Taglines:

In the past 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests, made America the world's largest jailer, and destroyed impoverished communities at home and abroad.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

Herself - Author, The New Jim Crow: You know, in any war, you've got to have an enemy, and when you think about impact, particularly on poor people of color, there are more African-Americans under correctional control today in prison or jail, on probation or parole, than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began. And that's something we haven't been willing to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, "what's really going on?"

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Connections

Edited into Chris Hedges and Eugene Jarecki the Failed War on Drugs: A Progressive Voice (2014)

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Soundtracks

SOULSVILLE
Written by Isaac Hayes
Published by Irving Music, Inc. on behalf of East Memphis Music Corp.
Performed by Isaac Hayes
Courtesy of Concord Music Group, Inc.

User Reviews

A Moving and Informative Introduction to the Untold Story of the Drug War

The House I Live In takes the complex issue of the failed war on drugs and breaks it down to a level that is both digestible and striking nonetheless. The film provides substantial historical evidence to make a powerful argument against the American war on drugs. The House I Live In exposes the many flaws of current anti-drug policies and strategies from a multitude of perspectives, drawing from historians and academics to front- of-the-line law enforcement and correctional officers alike. The film brilliantly ties these perspectives in a way that can effectively inspire viewers from all backgrounds to take a stand in confronting this largely unrecognized national issue.

The film provides an impressively broad set of data and evidence that cohesively screams one message—the war on drugs is a failure to the American public. As the first film focused solely on the subject, The House I Live In is undoubtedly one of the decade's most important films.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [United Kingdom] ITVS [United States]

Country:

Netherlands UK Germany Japan Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

The House I Live In

Filming Locations:

New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,453, 7 October 2012

Gross USA:

$210,752

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$219,159

Company Credits

Production Co:

Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Charlotte Street Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 98 min (total run time)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1