SBIFF23 Red Carpet 26.2 To Life

The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.
-Lao Tzu

By Mark Bennett

Anticipating a possible depressing prison story, 26.2 turned out to be a well made documentary, a human story of tragedy, hope, transformation and a challenging prison yard marathon. I was moved by the storys told from the three main prisoners the documentary focused on and how their lives have evolved over the years. The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Hopefully 26.2 will rightfully find a larger viewing audience and will be instrumental in helping our prison system find more creative programs, like the 1000 Mile Club, to better rehabilitate its vast prison populations. Watch 26.2 if you can.

 
Behind the walls of San Quentin State Prison, three men sentenced to life in prison for murder undertake running a marathon on a quest for redemption and freedom — or something like it.

Interview Stuart MacNaught

SHORT SYNOPSIS
The San Quentin Prison Marathon has an unconventional route: 105 dizzying laps around a crowded prison yard. 26.2 TO LIFE is a new documentary that tells the story of incarcerated men who are members of the 1000 Mile Club, the prison’s long distance running club. They  train all year for this 26.2 mile race. For the men who take their places at the starting line on a cool, sunny November morning, completing the marathon means more than entrée into an elite group of athletes. It’s a chance to be defined by more than their crimes. Cheering them on are a small staff of volunteer coaches, veteran marathoners who train with the runners throughout the year. The bonds they forge on the track create a community that transcends prison politics and extends beyond the prison walls as members are released. 26.2 TO LIFE is a story of transformation and second chances. The film offers a rare glimpse into a world out of bounds, as the men navigating life sentences seek redemption and freedom… or something like it.

LONG SYNOPSIS
26.2 TO LIFE  takes us inside California’s oldest prison, where members of the 1000 Mile Club--San Quentin’s volunteer-led running group--are about to run the prison’s annual marathon: 105 laps on a quarter-mile, uneven dirt and concrete path that loops the prison’s busy lower yard. Shot over the course of three years and with unprecedented access to the prison, this character driven film unfolds via cinema verite, giving us an intimate look at these mens’ lives. The film follows them on and off the makeshift track, as they confront the challenges of aging, maintaining family relationships, getting an education and engaging in meaningful work from behind bars, all while knowing that they may never again see life on the outside.