Review of The Other Side of Hell

Alan Arkin plays Frank Dole, a disturbed but highly intelligent man who is sent to a hospital for the criminally insane to serve time and rehabilitate. But what he discovers there is not what he anticipated. He finds himself in a closed world where guard brutality is an everyday occurrence, where he must learn to 'get well' strictly by his own efforts. After spending years in this daily hell, (for no one ever gets released) he makes plans in preparation to one day escape this institution with his collected proof of it's corruption. This film is arguably the highest quality 'made for TV' movie ever produced. And in my opinion it is the best role Alan Arkin has played in his long career. It is directed by Czeck director Jan Kadar who effectively creates it's dark and ominous mood. At over 2 hours in length, it is truly a long arduous journey... one you are imprisoned with to it's final conclusion. Fifteen years ago I was fortunate enough to record it off a TV broadcast, now-days it is simply unavailable from any source. It still never fails to impress me with each subsequent viewing. Feel free to email with any comments.