Caesar Must Die

Caesar Must Die
Country: Italy
Directors: Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
The thing about this production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is that the cast does not consist of professional actors – but inmates at a high security prison in Rome. They've been convicted of murder, drug trafficking, etc. The exquisite film takes us on a journey from auditions to rehearsals to the actual performance on stage, adding a palpable layer of complexity. Connecting life and art is a theme that runs throughout, and that through art the prisoners, many of whom are faced with life imprisonment, might find new meaning to their lives. Filmed almost entirely in black and white, it's a moving experience you won't forget. Winner of the Golden Bear at Berlin's film fest. (2012; 76 min) Preceded by The August Wilson Center: Building on a Legacy, by Billie Jackson.