"A miracle of documentary empathy...if you work with children in any role at all - you need to watch this film." Nell Bernstein, author, 'All Alone in the World'

TRE MAISON DASAN is an intimate portrait of three boys growing up, each with a parent in prison. Directly told through the child's perspective, the film is an exploration of relationships and separation, masculinity, and coming of age in America when a parent is behind bars.

Tre, Maison and Dasan are three very different boys. Tre is a spirited 13-year-old who hides his emotions behind a mask of tough talk and hard edges. Maison is a bright eyed 11 year old with an encyclopedic mind and deep love for those around him. Dasan is a sensitive 6 year old with an incredible capacity for empathy and curiosity.

Their parents are not incarcerated for the low-level offenses that have become infamous in conversations around mass incarceration, but their histories and relationships beg many questions about justice and the lasting and rippling effects of a system at large.



Grade Level: 8 - 12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2020     Copyright Date: 2018
DVD ISBN: 1-948745-44-5

Reviews "This is an exceptional film that on its surface tells of the harmful effects that result from parental incarceration. However, at a deeper level, the film exposes the larger problem of mass incarceration and the racist structures that perpetuate and maintain the oppression of people of color in this country. An emotional and heartbreaking entry point to understanding how our systems have been designed to maintain inequality." Alan Dettlaff, Dean, Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston "Powerful and gripping...By centering the voices of these young people, the film brings to life elements of humanity often overlooked when considering the very real impact of parental incarceration. As you witness each child navigate and confront unfamiliar life circumstances, you will feel the intensity of their pain and anger, understand the source of their confusion and conflict, and celebrate their joy and excitement. This documentary is a compelling chronicle of the unheard voices of the children left behind." Shenique S. Thomas, PhD, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice Program, CUNY - Borough of Manhattan Community College "Heart-rending...Fascinating and deeply touching...A remarkable film, powerful in its emotional content and profound in its criticism of a system that sets the next generation up for failure...Nonfiction filmmaking doesn't get much better than this." Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Hammer to Nail "Engrossing...Potent, sometimes wrenchingly intimate...This feature directorial debut is an excellent non-fiction drama." Dennis Harvey, Variety "Powerful, incredibly moving...The stories of three boys of varying ages and races reveal intimate, painful conversations with their incarcerated fathers or formerly incarcerated mother. These children have remained largely invisible, as they face numerous, everyday challenges that most of us cannot fathom. This film serves as an excellent resource for educators and community organizers alike who bring these challenges to light as they seek to advocate for the youngest victims of mass incarceration." Sandra Joy, Professor of Sociology, Director of Youth Empowerment Program, Rowan University "Beautiful film...An excellent addition to any education, nursing, public health, public policy, or social work curriculum. Through the eyes of the namesake children, we feel the pain of incarceration-related parental separation and stigma. We hear Tre's father aptly say 'This isn't normal, man' during their visits, and yet parental incarceration has become the norm for millions of American children. The film will help prepare students to support affected families. It will also encourage dialogue on systems-level changes that will better serve families and communities than our current over-reliance on incarceration." Laurie Goshin, Associate Professor of Nursing, Hunter College - CUNY "Gripping...Offers a fresh and heartrending perspective...This picture opens our eyes to a social disruption that has been underexposed and that we all ignore at our peril." Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter "Poignant...The significance of maintaining the attachment relationship via prison visits and telephone calls was realistically and heartbreakingly apparent throughout the film. Tre Maison Dasan allows one to see incarceration through the eyes of children, incarcerated parents, and loving grandparents who often provide care when their sons and daughters are incarcerated. The film left me wondering what will happen to Tre? My hope is that he will be provided with the opportunity to maximize his potential and realize his true worth." Dr. Marian S. Harris, Professor of Social Work, University of Washington-Tacoma "Presents a vivid portrayal of the collateral consequences of mass incarceration. In telling the story of three boys impacted by parental incarceration, the film provides valuable perspective for anyone working in, or wanting to work in, the criminal justice field." Dr. Danielle Rousseau, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Boston University "Gives a raw, in-depth look at the experiences of children with incarcerated parents. This documentary is a must-see to understand the extensive impacts of mass incarceration." Breanna Boppre, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Wichita State University "Capture[s] some deeply emotional moments." Andy Smith, Providence Journal "This is not a 'homeless to Harvard' story, it's about more typical children who are living with a tremendous stigma and whose futures may not be bright. And the story may be a more common occurrence than many of us would believe." Paul Parcellin, Film Threat "Engrossing and illuminating." Jay Seaver, eFilmCritic "A miracle of documentary empathy, shot as if each of the three young protagonists - all struggling with parental incarceration - had a camera embedded behind his eyes. The film doesn't preach about mass incarceration, but it's impossible to watch these children suffer and struggle and love and not ask oneself if their pain is necessary for our collective safety. If you work with children affected by parental incarceration - and if you work with children in any role at all - you need to watch this film." Nell Bernstein, Author, All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated and Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison "Exceptional work...Despite past mistakes, all three parents are completely devoted to their children, and scenes between parent and child are both heartwarming and heartbreaking...[This] outstanding program informs us that 1 in 14 kids in the U.S. have a parent in prison...Highly recommended