The condition of the United States prison system often times is considered a universal joke, but its issues are never actually addressed. Between the excessive arrest rates, rampant violence, sexual abuse and lack of aid for the mentally ill, the current system is nothing short of disastrous. The film, “The Mind of Mark Defriest,” captures this environment, demonstrating potentially great minds wasting away over petty crimes, dealing with mental and physical abuse and facing a lack of empathy from potential aid.

Defriest’s prison life begins at 19 years old after his stepmom has him arrested for taking his deceased father’s tools, which results in a four-year prison sentence for Defriest. Taking a deceased person’s tools before they have been probated constitutes a felony, but his stepmom’s decision to call the police is indicative of their abusive relationship.

After being arrested, Defriest becomes a notorious escape artist and successfully frees himself from the countless prisons he ends up in. He performs many feats, including diving through barbed wire, drugging prison employees, climbing through vents and making miniature guns. When he is not acting as Florida’s Houdini, Defriest is sexually abused, beaten by guard forces and is denied his appeal to be declared mentally unwell. This results in a life sentence and 27-year prison stay.

The film helps the audience see that Defriest is only human. As admirable as his skills are, it is frustrating to watch a man sabotage himself due to his stubbornness. The movie successfully portrays Defriest’s internal struggles, that result from his troubled family and prison life. Using graphic novel style cutaways, the viewers see Defriest’s childhood including his aggressive stepmother and paranoid father. The troubling background explains why Defriest is always so determined to escape. The horrors Defriest faces in each prison makes viewers wonder how any sane person could stay.

Unfortunately, as Defriest’s loved ones note in the film, he is not sane. Defriest suffers from mental illness, which intensifies during his stay in prison. The film’s final sequences portray the lack of empathy present in the prison system. Another opportunity for parole arrives for Defriest, but he is ordered to stay another two years. Although Defriest had been denied analysis promised to him, the parole office casually dismisses him without hesitation.

Although the film deals with many negative ideas, the ending is quite positive. Following the massive public response following the spread of Defriest’s story, the parole office reassembled and set his release for 2015.

“The Mind of Mark Defriest” opens in New York on March 6.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, March 4 print edition. Email Carter Glace at [email protected].