Prison 77 ★★★½
SPANISH film Prison 77 is several things.

It starts as a prison drama, becomes a socio-political drama and finally a prison escape thriller.

Occasionally the transitions are a little jarring and perhaps it’s a little long, but mostly it successfully blends an engrossing and exciting story with examination of how society treats the incarcerated.

It helps that Alberto Rodriguez’s film is based on real events that occurred in the Spanish penal system during the latter half of the 1970s

During this time the country was adjusting to the political and social ramifications caused by the overthrow of long-time dictator General Franco.

Transition to some form of democracy was engulfing all elements of society including, to a lesser extent, attempts to reform the penal system.

To some in authority this meant simply granting the grand gesture of amnesty to all prisoners held for political reasons.

But what about the many other jailed unfairly during the years of almost marshal rule?

Miguel Herrán plays a new inmate at Barcelona’s Modelo Prison. Manuel is an accountant who claims he has been wrongly convicted of theft from his employer.

The first act follows Manuel as he carefully navigates the societal, political and psychological challenges of his new life.

In the second act Manuel becomes involved in a national prisoner human rights movement in which he eventually plays an important role.

The third act is the exciting prison break.

I forgot, Prison 77 is also a story of friendship that slowly builds between Manuel and another, veteran prisoner, José, played by Javier Gutiérrez.

The leads are both excellent and there is no denying the authenticity of the story and setting, the film being shot inside the real Modelo Prison.

The 2022 film was nominated for 16 Goya Awards (the Spanish Oscars), winning five.

Watched on Apple TV.