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The House I Live In - Documentary - Review




The House I Live In, directed by Eugene Jarecki, is a 2012 documentary film about the War on Drugs in the United States.

The 'War on Drugs' has been the longest war in the history of humankind. It has been fought for over 40 years. And yet - a judge can still snort cocaine off a hookers arse in all 50 states.
Drugs are still readily available and just as many people use them as they have in the past. To say the war has failed in its objectives is an understatement. A catastrophic and monumental failure, if the objectives where to reduce drug related harm. Furthermore the consequences of short sighted government drug policy has had a huge impact on the poorest and most vulnerable people.

For some people the 'War on Drugs' doesn't mean much. But just like the name suggests: its a war. However it's not a war on drugs but on people. Real people just like you and me. Families and whole communities are caught up and become victims to this "War". Lives are destroyed, families pulled apart, an entire generation of black men are being incarcerated. Children are growing up with one or more family member in jail.

This is the stark reality captured in the  thought provoking documentary titled The House I live In.
winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, in 2012.
For anyone sitting on the fence I suggest you watch this documentary. Educate yourself.

 

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