Prison 77 (Modelo 77)

When Franco died in 1975 Spain went under a fundamental change from dictatorship to democracy. Elections were held in 1977 and there were changes in all areas of society. Apart from prison reform. That was slower in coming and the old ‘do anything to the prisoner’ regime persisted for some years after then with only limited reform.

Arrested for fraud Manuel (Miguel Herrán) is imprisoned into a brutal regime of beatings and a prisoner hierarchy that he’s at the bottom of. His trial could take years to come to court and his lawyers aren’t any good; overworked and really not caring that much. When an amnesty is proposed by the new democratic, there’s jubilation until they realise it only applies to political prisoners.

That sets off various scenes of riots, hunger strikes, prison transfers and self-mutilation, not to mention the prison heavies being challenged and overthrown. More positively the get better legal representation and the formation of a prisoner reform group begins to apply pressure on the authorities.

At over two hours this is a worthy though dull telling of the prisoner led attempt to change the system and get amnesty for all prisoners. It is heavy going and the repetition of beatings and abuse just becomes tiring so the whole thing become a chore. The air is suitably grim which suits the subject matter, it just doesn’t get any traction with the audience as the leaden pace drags it out.

The acting is appropriately austere and while we know this lot are criminals – there’s no quibble about that – there has to be some sort of empathy for them and their situation which director Alberto Rodriguez and co-writer Rafael Cobos can’t create.

I would suggest that the black and white photos of the real prisoners over the end credits carry more power than a minute of the film.

Prison 77 received its UK Premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival 2023.