Quilting can be a simple yet therapeutic activity for many – something that can calm their nerves, while also bringing out the artist in them. But what happens when it becomes the only purpose of your life? Independent filmmaker Jenifer McShane-directed movie The Quilters, which was shortlisted in the ‘Best Documentary Short’ category at the 97th Academy Awards, thoughtfully catalogues the prime occupation of a bunch of inmates at a maximum-security prison in the US, for whom the activity of quilting has become a patchwork of redemption. Streaming on Netflix, the 33-minute documentary takes you inside a sewing room, where amid swatches of fabric, scissors, needles and thread, prisoners from different age groups dedicatedly stitch ‘birthday quilts’ for foster children in the surrounding counties.
Curiosity and compassion run high in The Quilters, as echoes of clacking and whirring lead you to a small manufacturing unit within the premises of South Central Correctional Center, ‘Level 5 Maximum Security Prison’ in Licking, Missouri. Those part of the ‘prison quilting project’ include Chill (who is imprisoned for 25 years), Potter (21 years) and Rod (35 years), together with Jimmy, Fred, Jeremiah and ‘master’ Ricky (all of whom are serving life terms). Needless to say, the men confined in this facility are serious offenders; they ‘messed up badly’ in their past. But not all inmates are allowed in the sewing room. ‘They must have no violations or write-ups’. They spend five days a week, from 7.30am to 3.30pm, trying to find peace in grids, patterns and patches. This is their ‘out’; their survival strategy. This initiative forms part of the ‘Restorative Justice Program’, under which as many as 2,000 quilts have been supplied to local nonprofits and charities.
Amid the ‘organised chaos’ in the sewing room, these quilters jostle for space as they cut, saw and iron truckloads of fabric donated by people. The colourful personalised quilts – punctuated by motifs of stars and butterflies – is a labour of love and salvation. Everyday, they try to turn their remorse and guilt into moments of empathy and love, by focussing on stitching one quilt at a time. These men sustain (even thrive) under the calming effect of the sewing room, sharing a chuckle or two while reading the ‘thank you notes’ they receive from schools for autistic children.
Quietly, they have built a community of quilters inside the state prison, where the inmates spend time together, help each other heal and, above all, relentlessly work on themselves to become a better person. After spending decades in captivity, all they are hoping for is forgiveness and redemption. It isn’t easy to overcome your demons, they say. But one has to be able to forgive oneself first before they can bring about a conscious change in themselves.
Director Jenifer – who is known for her works like Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops (2019), Mothers of Bedford (2011) and A Leap of Faith (1996) – intricately designs a human document, where the focus is not as much on why these people are in prison or how they got there. Rather, the narrative emphasises on how they’re using their time in the prison. The Quilters is a moving tale of hope, transformation, grace and compassion. The documentary is intimately filmed, focussing on the emotions and inner battles of those who feature in it. DOP Scott Alexander Ruderman’s camerawork and Paul Toohey’s sound mixing deserve a special mention here. It’s a vivid commentary on how decades of being in captivity can alter your psyche. These men hustle together in the sewing room not just to deliver those quilts on time, but also to comfort one another and look after themselves. They have managed to create a bond, which is sometimes difficult to find in the world outside.
Streaming on Netflix, Jenifer McShane’s soul-stirring documentary The Quilters is a must watch. Don’t miss those delicately designed vibrant quilts, adorned with colourful motifs and patches. Every quilt is a piece of fine craftsmanship!
The Quilters
Director and producer: Jenifer McShane
Cinematography: Scott Alexander Ruderman
Executive producers: Abigail Disney, Ryan Harrington, Josh Braun
Rating: 3½ stars
