The Least of These

Documentary Feature, Lone Star States
D: Clark Lyda, Jesse Lyda

Regular Chronicle readers already know about the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility up in Williamson County that used to house immigrant and asylum-seeking families as their appeals go through the courts. That makes Hutto a prison for children and parents, none of whom has been convicted of anything. This quiet and measured documentary about the history of Hutto doesn’t paint ICE or management firm Corrections Corporation of America as the bad guys. Instead, it shows them as victims of their own political and commercial hubris and highlights the bleak comedy of their attempts to justify a bad idea. But as the interviews with traumatized kids, parents disabused of the American dream, and the University of Texas lawyers that fight for them show, it doesn’t matter how many Disney murals you paint on the walls – a prison is a prison.

Friday, March 20, 11am, Paramount

This article appears in March 20 • 2009.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.