This film is a powerful indictment of the brutality of the Australian prison system in the 1970s, where prisoners were regularly savagely beaten in order to instil fear into the prisoners.
Bryan Brown gives another outstanding performance as 'China' Jackson, a man who has gone out on a limb to condemn the system in a television expose, but who finds himself back in the same jail, and must try to survive amidst the violence of an unfair and uncaring system.
Max Phipps is also impressive as a warder who feels guilty about how they treat the prisoners, but who fears what would happen if the prisoners were not cowed by fear.
The film is not an easy watch at times, and there is not a woman to be seen in the film, but it is a convincing argument for prison reform.
Bryan Brown gives another outstanding performance as 'China' Jackson, a man who has gone out on a limb to condemn the system in a television expose, but who finds himself back in the same jail, and must try to survive amidst the violence of an unfair and uncaring system.
Max Phipps is also impressive as a warder who feels guilty about how they treat the prisoners, but who fears what would happen if the prisoners were not cowed by fear.
The film is not an easy watch at times, and there is not a woman to be seen in the film, but it is a convincing argument for prison reform.