Streaming Service: Tubi (Free)
Warnings:
Graphic Images
Violence
Drug abuse
Rating: Not Rated
The House I Live In is a truth telling documentary that uncovers an inside look on the War on Drugs. Written and directed by Eugene Jarecki, the documentary reveals the disproportionate arrests and sentencing against Black Americans and other people of color. The film was released in 2012 and was received with positive reviews; Roger Ebert stated, “The House I Live In makes a shattering case against the War on Drugs.” The film went on to win the Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival and later a Peabody Award in 2014. The House I Live In is striking and powerful because it includes personal stories, archival footage, professional interviews as well as breaking down the levels of destruction the War on Drugs causes. This documentary is an important film when it comes to understanding The War on Drugs as whole. The House I Live In is similar to the documentary 13th by Ava DuVernay; both films found similar conclusions, but they approach their research in different ways.
The House I Live In follows a personal story between Eugene Jarecki and one of his interviewees, Nanny Jetter. Nanny Jetter represents the Black elder perspective on the War on Drugs which is not often emphasized when discussing the drug epidemic. In addition to Nanny Jetter’s perspective, the film interviews professionals who are involved in the War on Drugs in different ways. From drug dealers, to narcotics officers, from politicians to the inmate being sentenced 20+ years in prison, and everyone in between, the film exposes profound human rights implications when it comes to the U.S. drug policy. The House I Live In does a wonderful job finding experts at every level to examine the War on Drugs to the full extent. This approach truly gives the viewer an understanding that hasn’t been portrayed entirely prior to this documentary.
Another aspect of the film worth noting is the archival footage that is used to portray the points of the interviewees. The footage emphasizes the words that the professionals are stating and took their points further than expected. By doing this, the audience cannot deny the War on Drugs, nor can they deny the horrific destruction it has caused to marginalized people in the United States. The film connects issues of race and class directly related to the War on Drugs and proves that it has never actually been about drugs. At one point of the film David Simon (creator of The Wire) states, “Let’s say it this way, if we kill the poor, we’re going to be a lot better off.” He said this while emphasizing that the War on Drugs is not about drugs. This documentary has many hard-hitting moments like this from professionals who have studied this epidemic from the inside out, to the average American’s naive perception, which shows most Americans are clearly oblivious to what is happening in their own back yards.
Last but not least, this film investigates different decades to underline the escalation of the War on Drugs, where it started and why it began in the first place. They also emphasize the difficult circumstances that people are put in who are illegally involved in the drug war while analyzing the humanity that is lost on many levels. Examining the War on Drugs throughout the years exposes the fact that there is no intention on ending this “war” in sight; the rehabilitation programs are the first to be cut for funding in prisons. Drug rehabilitation programs are often not an option for poor Americans and even after people get out of prison, it is extremely difficult to get a job, thus forcing the individual to repeat a cycle they don’t want to be in in the first place. The House I Live In highlights how this cycle is perpetuated and how this system of oppression is working exactly as it was designed to work.
In conclusion, The House I Live In is an important portrayal of American history, especially when studying the War on Drugs and even the class war in the United States. This film allows the audience to see the truth about the drug war that is oftentimes overlooked or misrepresented. The House I Live In crosses boundaries between the drug war that is not often analyzed which forces the audience to reconsider what some news and media has previously misrepresented. It is imperative to continue to support documentary filmmaking like this in order to change the conversation about the War on Drugs and change the future for the better.