Back to Blog

“Unguarded” Documentary takes us inside the walls of APAC

June 20, 2022

“Unguarded” takes us inside the walls of APAC, the revolutionary Brazilian prison system centered on the full recovery and rehabilitation of the person.

Directed by Simonetta D’Italia Wiener and produced by T.J. Berden, the film has received awards and been a part of many film festivals, including:

Beginning in 1972, APAC founder Dr. Mario Ottoboni volunteered in some of Brazil’s worst prisons. Seeing men and women frequently return to a life of crime once they left prison, Dr. Ottoboni decided to found his own restorative justice-based system. The results have been extraordinary: while the crime rate and recidivism rates have continued to increase in Brazil’s public prisons, within the APAC (Association for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts) system they have steadily decreased.

“Unguarded” explores the unique method behind this system, now present in twenty three countries across four continents. Observing the daily lives of the “recuperandos” (recovering inmates) who live and work there, we see firsthand why —- as one inmate puts it —- “no one escapes from love.”

The documentary is in Portuguese with English SDH, Spanish and Italian subtitle options. Read remarkable reviews and see a trailer for the documentary here.

Tags:

Support the cause

We've Been Restoring Justice for More Than 40 Years

Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.

Donate Now