REVIEWS
Texas Center for Justice and Equity
“The messaging from IN HER SHOES is critical to recognizing the common history of unaddressed trauma and harm that too often results in women’s incarceration; it is also critical to shifting the public narrative about what real justice should look like.
Incarceration exacerbates women’s trauma and often results in a cycle of generational harm by separating families. We hope to be able to share this film with policymakers, county officials, practitioners, service providers, and the broader community to highlight how Texas can advance safety, justice, and equity through investments in community-based programs and services, which would more effectively help women address substance use disorder, mental health problems, and past trauma and violence.” – Laura Pinney, Exec Director, TCJE
Powerful
… really powerful. It’s a moving and intimate view into the lives of women who are incarcerated and the struggles they have faced and continue to confront in their lives.
-Jeannine Esposito Roots&Rebound
Incredible- Puts a human face on women incarcerated
I watched a 60-min documentary last week, IN HER SHOES, and immediately thought how much I would love for people to see it. The film chronicles the lives of women in Dallas County jail through the unlikely medium of the shoes they have worn and aspire to wear again. In a prison education art class, they draw the shoes they love and by doing so it bubbles up the memories of their past lives and their hopes for the future.
The filmmaker, Cynthia Salzman Mondell, has done an incredible job in putting a human face on incarcerated women. It also illuminates mental health and drug/alcohol issues and leaves you rooting for all the women. We need more of these types of films to help educate the community-at-large to help people see the humanity behind the bars. Cynthia is now partnering with people and organizations for virtual showings/events/ Q&A’s. I wanted to put it on your radar for criminal justice conversations / possible partnerships / and bringing the human story to light – which I know you believe in.- Emily Hargrove,Senior Vice President of Collective Impact for Social Venture Partners
SMU Showing Challenges Stereotypes
“The film was a rare opportunity to learn about the personal and systemic challenges many incarcerated women experience. It is a powerful tool to dispel stereotypes about women serving time, and although some of the individual stories are heartbreakingly sad, witnessing the potential of art and narrative to heal is hopeful and uplifting.” Joci Caldwell Ryan, SMU,Women’s & Gender Studies, SMU
SMU Screening – Quotes
“…. weaves the shards of broken women’s lives into hope and wholeness through the experience, art, and dreams of shoes. Each of us who watch this film—and we all should— are called to be “in her shoes.” Dr. Bonnie Wheeler, SMU, Feminist Professor, Gender and Medieval Studies
“It’s a moving and memorable work: congratulations!” SMU student
“The raw emotion of these women really shook me like a missle.” Bob Stoller, Dallas Attorney
“It’s a moving and memorable work. Congratulations!” SMU student
“The raw emotion of these women really shook me like a missle.” Bob Stoller, Dallas Attorney
Quote From Petey Greene Re-entry
EWOP Screens IN HER SHOES
“…promotes awareness about the plight of and growing number of incarcerated women in Texas. The documentary is proof that one person can change the lives of many. Congratulations to Cynthia Salzman Mondell and the art teacher who brought hope and healing into the lives of these women.”
Thank you again Cynthia for the opportunity, we wish you great success.
Pam Parkman Thomure , Empowering Women Out Of Prison
Executive Director
Tufts University Said
Screening In Her Shoes at Tufts University was one of the most important things we have done to educate people about both the causes and impact of incarceration on women in particular. This beautiful film shows us without flinching the harm of both childhood sexual assault and intimate partner violence and how these experiences can lead directly to incarceration, compounding the trauma these women experience. At the same time, In Her Shoes tackles this difficult subject with love, empowering the mostly incarcerated women in the film as speakers, writers, and artists able to tell their own stories and thus to enact their own form of resistance and healing.
Hilary Binda , Ph.d
Founding Director, Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College;
Director, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
“A powerful film that reminds the viewer that female inmates, regardless of their crime, are simply people like the rest of us with struggles, regrets, hopes and dreams. I highly recommend the film as a terrific tool for educating – law enforcement, corrections professionals, social workers, teachers. Uplifting for incarcerated women.”
– Christina Melton Crain, Esq.
Founder and President/CEO – Unlocking DOORS
“A moving , authentic and realistic depiction of women in prison. Reveals the complexities of their lives – their struggles, their hopes and their dreams.”
– Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, Boston University
“ …provides a window into lives often unseen and invites viewers to consider the conditions that shape the experiences of women in prison. The powerful stories of women should move us to demand a world that invests in care not cages.” –Caren Holmes, Reentry Program Columiba University
“…reveals the humanity of these ladies without judgment. I highly recommend this movie to all.” –Sherida Devine, MNM, MSW Prison Education Program, College of Southern Nevada
“… promotes awareness about the plight of and growing number of incarcerated women in Texas. The documentary is proof that one person can change the lives of many….. brought hope and healing into the lives of these women.”
Pam Parkman Thomure, Executive Director, Empowering Women Out Of Prison
“It made me see incarcerated women in a new way. I heard their voices and saw them as Women -mothers, daughters and wives.” – Ann Pascal, at the Unlocking Door Reentry Symposium
“I have been working in the prison system for over 20 years and after viewing this film I cried. I realized I never saw these women as the people they are. This film humanizes people in jail.” – Officer Reyes, Dallas County Jail
“This film reveals and celebrates incarcerated women’s intimate, personal journeys through shoes, and the unleashing of their “art spirit.” These women experienced the inner freedom gained through the discipline and rewards of art–in their case, through drawing their shoes of the past, present, and imagined future–leading to an understanding of self. The act of drawing shoes and telling their heartfelt life stories brings alive their womanhood, dreams, and humanity. This film should be seen by all those active in reforming the criminal (un)justice system, prison arts programs, political leaders, and the general public.”
– Dr. Lawrence Brewster, Emeritus Professor, University of San Francisco
“Amazing. Inspirational. Truth in a new form. Soul to Sole Shoes provide a new connection to bring forth the stories of past and healing. As I sit in my purple Uggs, I think of shoes of my past that no longer serve who I am. I am in awe of your work and what you have created.” – Chaplain Bonnie Leopold
“IN HER SHOES offers a deeply moving insight into
the lives, hopes, and plans of a diverse group of incarcerated women, as told through their shoes. While the jail-issued shoes they wear now are ugly and ill-fitting, the shoes they draw allow these women to tell their stories, highlighting their struggles and aspirations. This film would be an outstanding addition to college classrooms in sociology, anthropology, psychology, criminology, and gender studies.” – Beth Rushing
President, Appalachian College Association Nevada
“A powerful documentary that shows the humanity of the forgotten women inside prison Reveals how women’s trauma can take them down a wrong path, but doesn’t dictate who they’re going to be . We all walk in a pair of shoes that change in style . People change too.”
– Lynn Sullivan, a Voice for the Incarcerated
“I loved IN HER SHOES! The stories the women tell are honest, excruciating, and ultimately hopeful. As it turns out, shoes can be a great vehicle for exploring past traumas.” – Peter Merts, photographer in California prison arts programs
“IN HER SHOES shines a light on the humanity of women who have been incarcerated and uplifts their voices to ring in the ears of the general public. By watching this film, we see firsthand the human potential that has been disregarded but will one day rejoin and enhance our communities.”
– Meg Tavares, Petey Greene