Up the Ridge facts for kids

Up the Ridge is a 2006 documentary film made by filmmakers Nick Szuberla and Amelia Kirby from Appalshop. A documentary film tells a true story about real events and people. This film looks at problems within the American prison system. It especially focuses on how people from cities are sent to faraway rural prisons. These include very secure prisons called supermax prisons, like Red Onion State Prison and Wallens Ridge State Prison.

The movie also talks about important topics. It explores how people can get out of prison early through parole and how the system might need to change. It also looks at how prisoners are treated. Up the Ridge was made as part of the Thousand Kites project. This is a group that works to make prisons better by sharing stories. (In prison, a "kite" is slang for sending a message).

About the Film

In 1998, Nick Szuberla was a volunteer DJ for a hip-hop radio show. The show was called "Lights Out" and was on WMMT, a radio station in the Appalachian region. He started getting many letters from people in prison. These prisoners had been moved to Wallens Ridge State Prison, which was a new prison nearby. This prison was built to help the local economy after coal mining slowed down.

Why This Film Was Made

The letters Szuberla received described serious problems. Prisoners wrote about their human rights not being respected. They also wrote about unfair treatment based on their race. Because of these letters, filming for Up the Ridge began in 1998.

What the Film Shows

The documentary uses the example of Wallens Ridge State Prison to explore the prison industry in the United States. It shows the social impact of moving many people from cities, often minority groups, to distant rural prisons. The film explains how different political goals can sometimes lead to unfair treatment of prisoners. It also shows how moving prisoners can cause problems between different communities and cultures. The film suggests that there are links between human rights issues in places like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo and problems in U.S. prisons.

Awards and Recognition

Up the Ridge has been shown at many film festivals and has won awards.

• In-Doc Film Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia
• Athens International Film and Video Festival "Best Documentary"
• San Francisco Frozen Film Festival
• Big Muddy Film Festival "John Michaels Award"
• Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
• Southern Fried Flicks Film Festival
• Northampton Independent Film Festival
• Rural Route Film Festival
• One World Film Festival