Inside Look
January 18, 2008 
Love is blind. Just ask the Nazi Low Rider and his Jewish boyfriend. They don’t share a jail cell yet, but are hoping to. If you’re having trouble following this, perhaps these three words will make things a little clearer: Louis Theroux documentary.
This week he was back with another slice of the American underbelly, with an inside look at the notorious San Quentin prison. Usually “inside look” is something of an overstatement but in this documentary the level of access Theroux enjoyed was incredible.
Standing alone in the prison yard, Theroux was free to interrogate people considered so dangerous they needed to be locked up 23 hours a day. One interviewee was serving a 500 year prison sentence (plus an additional 11 life sentences). Whether the prisoners enjoyed the attention, wanted to tell their own stories or were disarmed by Louis’s naivety, whatever they were asked, they answered.
Fascinating insights emerged about the savagery of prison life, and the predominance of racism but most memorable were the unexpected moments of tenderness. Meaningful relationships had formed between prisoners and genuine friendships between prisoners and their guards. And, for once, Louis was happy to take a back seat.
