In the searing new documentary The Sentence, we discover that the casualties of the “War on Drugs” extend beyond the millions of Americans harshly punished with prison time—their families suffer the brunt.

About the Filmmaker

Director Rudy Valdez, an American of Mexican descent, began filming his three nieces for his sister Cindy Shank. Why? Because she’d been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Her loving brother, the youngest sibling, wanted Cindy to be able to see the girls grow up. The even greater tragedy is her family’s suffering the pain of living without her. The worst crime is Cindy’s children doing time, also—they grew up without their Mom.
As Valdez began fighting to reduce his sister’s draconian sentence, he discovered that the problem of over-sentencing was much larger than his family’s painful tale. Due to the failed “War on Drugs,” nonviolent first-time offenders, like Cindy, received ghastly punishments because the judge had to adhere to the mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

The Girlfriend Problem

Cops and lawyers have a nickname for Cindy’s all-too-common scenario: The Girlfriend Problem. Cindy’s crime was falling in love with the wrong man.

Although it is not shown in the film, we learn that Cindy lived with Alex Humphrey until 2002, when he was murdered by gunshot right outside their home in Lansing, Michigan. When police searched their home for clues to the murder—which is still unsolved—they found more than 40 pounds of cocaine.
Cindy had attempted to leave Humphrey, but he had threatened her. After his death she was free to move on and straighten out her life. She fell in love with a good man, married him and the couple had three children.

The Arrest

Without giving too much away, the police knocked on the door six years later and arrested Cindy. She was charged as a conspirator because she had known about Humphrey’s drug dealing.
At SVA Theatre this past Wednesday, after a pre-screening of the documentary, filmmaker Valdez said, “We can no longer sit around and be okay with people profiting off the backs of the disenfranchised.”
“It’s the rhetoric we hear: hard on crime or you’re soft on crime…. we need to get rid of that crap. You’re either smart on crime or you’re not,” Valdez said. “This film is apolitical on purpose; it doesn’t go into the history, the right or the left, or who started this, or who’s perpetuating this. It’s a hearts and minds film that transcends voting…. There’s a cultural shift that needs to happen in this country.”

Sundance Film Festival to HBO

The film won the Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. HBO purchased the film and will air it Monday, October 15. I suggest putting a box of tissues nearby.

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THE SENTENCE premieres on HBO Monday, October 15, 2018 at 8PM EST. Click here for additional screening times.

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I interviewed director Peter Sattler on Wed., Oct. 8, 2014 to talk about his first feature film, “Camp X-Ray” and what it was like working with actress Kristen Stewart.

Camp X-Ray is the locale of the movie. It’s based on the real-life temporary detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Stewart plays a small town girl named Amy Cole who enlisted in the army to find a purpose to her life. She is stationed as a military guard at Camp X-Ray. Her job is to patrol the cellblocks that house post-9/11 prisoners. (It’s interesting that the U.S. army refers to these prisoners as detainees.)

While on guard Cole is drawn into conversations with detainee Ali Amir (Peyman Moaadi) and a relationship develops. It’s a complex situation for both guard and prisoner. These supposed enemies surprisingly find a commonality despite being from opposite sides.

Sattler was very candid about his feelings for Stewart and the movie during our exclusive interview.

Dorri Olds: How did you know Kristen Stewart was right for this role?
Peter Sattler: When I started thinking about her I immediately realized the reason she is perfect for the film is she has a perfect mix of toughness and vulnerability. That’s at the heart of this character.
Is Kristen similar to Cole?
In some ways, yes. We talked about this a lot. We would find things from our own past we could relate to. Kristen seeks out roles that can explore a part of her. She definitely has a toughness to her and she’s kind of a tomboy but she also has a very sensitive side that is an intrinsic part of her.
Does she joke around on set?
If you can get her unguarded and at the right moment she can be super talkative and jokey. She’s actually a very funny person and she’ll talk a mile a minute if she’s got something to say. She has a lot of different sides to her. I’ve been in the same room with Kristen when the paparazzi are chasing her. She throws her guard up and doesn’t say anything. But, when she feels safe she’s a lot of fun. She has more talkative roles in the works and I’m really looking forward to her upcoming comedy.
Can you talk about the instant chemistry between Peyman Moaadi and Kristen Stewart?
It happened in a heartbeat. We cast Kristen first. Her casting director suggested Peyman. We did a video chat with the two of them and they fell right into their characters.

Read more about Kristen Stewart

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