HERMAN’S HOUSE – The DVD Review

Review by Dane Marti

There is something annoying about ‘Herman’s House’ but the overall, idealistic effect that the film conveys overcame my ‘independent’ point of view and punctured into my bleeding heart sensibility. The film is competently filmed and edited by Angad Singh Bhalla. For me, the best thing about the movie is the relationship between a committed, passionate artist, Jackie Sumell and a long-term prisoner, Herman Wallace, who has been in solitary confinement for 40 years.

As a documentary, it is hard to remain objective about the story—everyone who watches the film or hears the gist of the true story, will undoubtedly have instant views about what has transpired before and during the movie. As a Writer, Photographer, Filmmaker, Actor and Artist, I diligently attempt to remain objective about a film, a piece of writing or motion picture (perhaps it isn’t what I would have created, but as far as what it was attempting to accomplish and convey, did it meet its goals?) but even I couldn’t quite reach the liberal and radical sensibility of the main character, a dedicated artist who lives her life with passion, both to her Art and Political Views. I admired her dedication, but I found her goal to be a little misplaced and pointless. I wasn’t disgusted by her goal, but I thought there were several holes in her logic and it would have been nice to delve deeper into the psychology of prisoners—and Herman in general. Of course, maybe that information wasn’t available. Jackie is not filled with doubt when it comes to some issues. Obviously, to her and others, Herman was set up, accused a murdering someone that he hadn’t.

However, I wanted to write a review that simply reviews and critiques what is on the screen and as far as that goes, it’s a successful film in making its point: Solitary Confinement, in particular, confining a prisoner, regardless of his crimes in or out of jail, for 40 years is inhuman and vicious. Maybe I’m just a cold-hearted bastard, but I felt that, although Herman might have spent too long in this ugly environment, there is a certain amount of delusion on the part of Jackie in believing that Herman should be released from prison.

Herman admits to having done crimes that sent him to Angola prison, but the film doesn’t go into detail about whether or not Herman had actually, literally murdered a prison guard. The prison and law obviously believe he committed the crime. What are the facts on this subject? I imagine that Jackie and the filmmakers don’t believe that is worth exploring. They have an Agenda. Sure, Herman sounds like he has turned over a new leaf. His conversation via phone with Jackie sounds heartfelt and sincere, but if there is any doubt that he might have murdered a guard, I’d like something a little more substantial than the artist hoping and dreaming that he will be released from prison.

We hear from his sister, from the artist and a few other folks, but do really know anything about this fella? The artist is a very trusting person, and while I’ll put my faith in many things, I’m not always jubilant and optimistic about human behavior. Even more than me, she seems to put her faith in humanity and people, without really knowing Herman and his psychological makeup. She—and many—might believe he’s been in solitary confinement simply for nebulous political beliefs, but someone (perhaps someone good, perhaps someone evil) believes that he killed a guard. When do we get the film on the murdered guard?

Obviously, I can relate and appreciate the disgust and activism against long-term solitary confinement, but is Herman just playing games and enjoying his conversations with Jackie? How important and vital –as Art—is visualizing and building his imaginative house? Does this really change his life? Isn’t it possible that this creation has far more benefit for Jackie, the art community and their supposed righteous indignation at the plight of Herman?

I don’t know if what she is attempting is ‘Art. It is a Concept, yes, but I guess it’s subjective whether this qualifies as significant next to the work or Monet or DaVinci…or even Architecture as Art—Frank Lloyd Wright.

The film is a nice documentation of the Artist as an angry, rebellious provocateur, but it’s a bit like flying through a cloud and noticing all the pretty cherubs and angels. Are they really there or do you just want to see pretty things? Basically, we learn a lot more about the passion and problems of Jackie than we do about Herman.

I admit, I know little about The Black Panthers. I wanted to give Herman the benefit of the doubt, but it was hard, after a half-century of living around people, to throw caution to the wind and embrace him as a misunderstood but otherwise fun, compassionate dude.

Sure, within the confines of the doc., the idea of an Art Installation conveying the isolation of Herman in prison, along with the construction of his isolation cell, is a cool, substantial idea and the film conveys how terrible it would be to live a painful, enclosed existence in a tiny cell. When detailing how painful this experience would be for anyone on earth, the film is on target. However, the theme of the movie seems to go farther than that, proclaiming that all prisons are morally reprehensible, that upstanding individuals are trapped n a Kafkaesque Prison Nightmare, and that our sweet buddy Herman should be summarily released from the injustice of incarceration. And…I’m not sure that would be a good idea.

I haven’t the foggiest idea whether Herman murdered a prison Guard, but if he did, that’s akin to murdering a cop. When you murder someone in prison, no one wants to be around you anymore. It’s as much to protect you, as to protect others.

Frankly, I do hope that Herman is allowed all the Rights that everyone in our country is allowed. Perhaps research should be done into the murder of the guard, to see if he wasn’t condemned due to his political beliefs rather than a vicious, cold murder?

If anything, although the film is certainly compelling and riveting as far as a telling a story or an artist and a prison inmate, there are huge sections of the film which should have been more highlighted. Sure, documentary films, due to their point of view, are as subjective and imaginary as so-called fictional or fantasy movies.

On an aesthetic level, I liked the film. It also opens up many doors, many questions, but the point of view is still stringently radical with a Neon R. Anyone that wants a balanced interpretation of the subject should look elsewhere. This film states its opinion in big bold letters, while ignoring the glaring questions. Overall, I liked Jackie and her compassion, but sometimes (and I might be wrong in this assessment) she seemed a little naïve when it came to human being.