User Reviews

I had a chance to see this picture at the raindance film festival, and it was a powerful experience. The documentary never lends itself to over sentimentality or polarised personal diabtribes, it simply works factually, logically and aggressively to uncover truth, and in doing so makes some truly shocking discoveries about a scandal that still deeply effects the lives of many people today. It can be a little dry at times, but if anything that lends to its credibility, its the kind of film a lot of people should be watching, and hopefully Kelly Duda will get the audience his film deserves.

It centres around the history of blood transfusions from a prison in Arkansas, where inmates were allowed to give blood in a profit business organisation, seemingly irrespective if they were infected with Hep B, Hep C or HIV. Unbelievably, this blood was then sold to labs in canada and europe to be used in blood transfusions, and as a result many haemophiliacs caught these fatals diseases. Duda makes it quite clear that knowledge of the contamination was apparent and yet no heads rolled. The violent history of the prison is also laid bare, which was the most shocking part of the documentary, as it seems the precedent of blood taking was begun with a series of scientific experiments performed at the inmates expense, even death, in the early sixties. This was harrowing to say the least.

The documentary then reveals that when the scandal broke in Canada, the blood prison system was shut down, only to be reopened under Bill Clinton's governorship. This is the really world scale impact of the documentary, it seems Clinton appointed friends to oversee the prison blood business, as the levels of money involved seemed to precipitate his aiding of the business remaining in existence, despite the previous contaminations. It's powerful, far reaching and unsettling, and the personal stories and personalities dotted around the picture, really give it a human feeling

I have to commend Kelley for his work on this film, for more than a couple of reasons. First of all, he LITERALLY risked his life in bringing this story to the public, and was threatened on more than a few occasions. The reason that I know that this story is so accurately told is that I was an inmate in the Arkansas Department of CORRUPTION for about 5 years, at exactly the time all of this was taking place. I could not give blood, because I have had Malaria more than once. It stays in your blood for as long as you live, and if someone is given MY blood, they get the additional gift of Malaria. I was told by several other inmates that they didn't care down at the blood bank whether you had ever had, or currently had, any blood borne diseases. I went and asked myself, because Arkansas doesn't pay inmates ANYTHING for working, so if you want soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc., Your family (or someone) has to send you money so you can buy those things off the commissary, at a greatly enhanced price. I told the 'nurse' I had contracted Malaria while in the Marine Corps, and she told me that it didn't matter, "Take a seat." I left without giving blood. I spoke with Kelley several times, and referred him to others he could talk to about the blood bank, but I refused to be interviewed for the film, because I didn't want to end up dead... like several dozen other folks from Arkansas who have gotten in Clinton's way over the years. But, I can tell you this... the film is TRUE and is FACTUAL. It really did happen, and the political "powers that be" kept it covered quite well. After all, who are most folks gonna believe... a convict? Or an upstanding government employee? The "Good 'Ol Boy" system of "Just-Us" was alive and well in Arkansas, until the liar and crook got elected President, and the Lt. Liar & Thief went to federal prison, which made State Senator Mike Huckabee the Governor, then things began to change. But, then again, why believe me... I'm just an ex-con, not a REAL human being.

By producing this film, Kelly Duda should be branded as an absolute HERO! Bringing this story to light for the whole world to see I am sure was not easy, however Kelly did not let the scare of Arkansas politics stop him. It's important for people to know the truth about this blood scandal and all the people who partook in this tragic event. If people do not uncover the REAL TRUTH about something we are left to believe the lies of our public officials, and we go on with life thinking they are great people. There is NOTHING great about the people who started this blood scandal, NOTHING!!!! The people who suffered and died from this event are the REAL great people and we must not forget them and let them die in vain. We must fight for them along with other people who have suffered at the hands of our public officials from our local police to our government! People in Arkansas and all over the world must fight for what is right and take a stand against injustice! I want to say THANK YOU KELLY DUDA, YOU ARE A TRUE HERO!AB

This is a must see. Unsettling is the very least I can say. This seems like a horror movie. The reality of prison life is heartbreaking. Inmates are still people. I'm so disappointed in the state. I feel terrible for the people who were infected by this tragedy.... Heads need to roll not just in Arkansas but Washington, DC.