Songs from the Hole
| Songs from the Hole | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Contessa Gayles |
| Written by | James "JJ'88" Jacobs, Contessa Gayles |
| Produced by | Jenny Raskin, Lauren Haber, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Regina K. Scully, Meadow Fund, Dream Hampton |
| Cinematography | Michelle Kwong, Contessa Gayles |
| Edited by | Contessa Gayles, Rafe Scobey-Thal, Princess A. Hairston |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
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Running time | 1hr 46 minutes |
Songs from the Hole is a 2024 Netflix documentary.
Plot
Songs From the Hole is a documentary that details the life in prison of James "JJ'88" Jacobs, a man convicted of murder as a teenager and how he became a musician while in prison.
Reception
The Guardian stated that the film is "a deeply moving and unconventional documentary that weaves Jacobs’s musical visions first developed in solitary – bits of his handwritten “first drafts/treatments for the visual album” appear on screen – with more traditional narrative footage of his life and loved ones outside prison."[2] Rolling Stone wrote, "the documentary is a strong case for the benefits of restorative justice."[3]
Release
Songs from the Hole premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival[4] where it won the Visions Audience Award at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival.[5] It premiered on Netflix on August 13, 2025.[6]
Awards and recognition
Songs from the Hole Overall, it won 10 awards on the film festival circuit in 2024.[3]
References
- ^ https://schedule.sxsw.com/2024/events/FS17169
- ^ Horton, Adrian (13 August 2025). "'Death always feels imminent': a moving Netflix documentary on prison, music and forgiveness". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ a b Gee, Andre (18 August 2025). "The Netflix Documentary 'Songs From the Hole' Will Make You Rethink Our Prison System". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (14 March 2024). "'Songs From the Hole' Review: A Poetic Approach Elevates a Familiar Justice System Doc". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Songs from the Hole". Cleveland Film Fest. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ Rahman, Abid (2 August 2025). "Netflix's New Releases Coming in August 2025". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 October 2025.