Behind the thick walls of the Bridgewater State Prison, time consists solely of the sounds echoing through the concrete corridors. Frederick Wiseman pushes the boundaries of observational cinema to the limit, capturing the ordinary flow of this closed-off world. The routine of the security guards and the helplessness of the inmates merge within the same frame. The stifling atmosphere of the cells and examination rooms lays bare the institution’s inner workings in their rawest form. Navigating the boundaries between drama and documentary, this film presents the human landscape within without any commentary, leaving it directly to the viewer.