In The Land Of The Free (Completed 2010)

About the Film

In the Land of the Free... is a documentary feature narrated by Samuel L Jackson that examines the story of these extraordinary men who appear to have been targeted by the prison authorities for being members of the Black Panther party and because they fought against the terrible conditions and systematic sexual slavery that was rife in the prison.

The film is directed by Vadim Jean (Leon the Pig Farmer, Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather) produced by the Mob film company (Terry Pratchett’s Colour of Magic, Stone of Destiny) Gold Circle Films (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, White Noise, A Haunting in Connecticut) and UKTV’s Yesterday films.

During the 1970s, the Angola 3 protested against continued segregation, corruption and abuse facing the largely black prison population within Angola. They formed one of the only recognised Black Panther Party prison chapters. Shortly after speaking out, Herman and Albert were subsequently convicted for the murder of a prison guard, Brent Miller.

There was no physical evidence against them. The main eye witness was bribed with a carton of cigarettes every week and promised his freedom by the warden in exchange for testifying. Another eye witness was a legally blind, mentally retarded sociopath. A bloody fingerprint from the scene was shown not to belong to Herman or Albert and yet never tested against the rest of the prison population.
Even Brent Miller’s widow doubts that this is a sound conviction.

One man understands their plight more than any other. Robert King too was thrown into solitary at Angola and told it was because he was under investigation for involvement in the Miller murder... even though he wasn’t even in the prison when it happened. The prison authorities used this as their reason for keeping him in solitary confinement for 31 years.

He was subsequently accused of the murder of another prisoner in Angola, again convicted by an all white jury on the evidence of unreliable witnesses who all subsequently recanted, before his conviction was overturned in 2001. It had taken 29 years for him to gain his freedom. Since then he has worked tirelessly all over the world to help bring justice for his friends.