Hot Docs 2025 - Holloway Review

 

We are taken by behind the camera, never-to-be-seen guides Daisy-May Hudson and Sophie Compton through the decrepit hallways of the Holloway Prison - and it’s about to be demolished. They’re accompanied by a diverse and strong group of women who have once been incarcerated in this facility. They are all doing better - among them are loving mothers, political activists and non-profit CEO’s. They’ve been taken into the facility to reflect on their experiences in Holloway, as well as the tough childhoods that led them there and the lives they’ve lead since. 

This is the brilliant conceit of Holloway, which meets at the intersection of cathartic recollection, group therapy session and an exploration of a haunted, liminal space. It’s a great concept that works in moments - often deeply emotional - though disappointingly bogged down by the treatment and portrayal of these truly inspiring women. To be a truly effective exploration of trauma, a film like this really needs to go beneath the surface, and teach us about the type of people they are. By the end of the film, we know literally zero about any of the subjects other than what they’ve been through and how they felt about it. 

It’s in a way that almost invalidates the conclusion it reaches, since we haven’t learned what underlies for each of these women that was stopping them from reaching that understanding. It also often feels way too invasive - moments where subjects are declined from their requests to speak off-camera as well as others where they are pressured to answer certain questions with visible discomfort are a bit much.

The most powerful moments of Holloway end up being the sections where the meaning of the facility is explored. The women recalling how much being in this building put a strain of them are the ones that create the strongest audience empathy. They are visceral in nature, and when the subjects speak to their feelings about a place like this being temporary will really stimulate. It may not be the films most significant goal, but these ideas will haunt you. It’s just a shame that the film doesn’t spend more time trying to understand its subjects separate from their trauma. 

Rating: 5/10

Hot Docs 2025 runs until May 4th. Tickets can be purchased at hotdocs.ca.