Documentary Review: ‘Jacinta’

Review by James Lindorf

With the release of “Jacinta” on October 8th Hulu will add an emotional new documentary to its slate of Originals. This ABC News and Impact Partners film follows a young woman struggling to find stability amid years of addiction and reconnecting with the daughter she left behind. This haunting documentary has earned awards for itself and its Director, Jessica Earnshaw, as it toured the country on the film festival circuit. Don’t worry if you don’t currently subscribe to Hulu; all hope is not lost because “Jacinta” will also open in select theaters on October 8th.

When the film opens, we are introduced to Jacinta, the 26-year-old subject, as she is nearing the end of her eight-month stint at a Maine Correctional Center. She doesn’t have to worry about feeling isolated or wondering if anyone has her back because one of Jacinta’s fellow inmates is her mother, Rosemary. Both women suffer from addiction, primarily heroin, are prone to violent outbursts. In the last decade have spent more time behind bars than out in the world. Oddly and slightly infuriating, the pair seem at peace with their incarceration, preferring it to the outside world in many ways. They even gleefully reminisce about when they robbed and beat a woman to hold themselves over until the next trip.

Once Jacinta is on the outside, it is time to work on putting her life back together. Her first step in doing that is getting set up at the Sober House, followed quickly by seeing her daughter. Not a lot is planned beyond that, instead choosing to take it one day at a time. The question of whether or not she will be able to stay clean depends on how she manages love, dedication, and her fear. Will the love for her daughter and herself be enough to help keep her dedicated to the process when surrounded by parts of her life before jail. The final component is the most telling. Jacinta is terrified of everything, what the drugs do to her, what she’s like without them, and counterintuitive to most people frightened by her newfound freedom.

Earnshaw is a photographer-turned-documentarian. Her only experience with filmmaking came nearly a decade ago when she produced and directed the music video for Alexz Johnson’s song “Walking.” For her feature debut, she embedded herself into Jacinta’s life and the lives of those closest to her for over three years. Earnshaw employs the classic vérité style of filmmaking, letting the story unravel as it will without her desires or agenda getting in the way. As we watch Jacinta struggle to maintain her sobriety, we are treated to on-screen and voice-over interviews with her family discussing her relationship with Rosemary. They recounted how Jacinta was forced to shoplift and start performing sexual acts at 15 to provide for her mother’s habit. Most notably is the idea that she may be trapped in a cycle of abuse and addiction that neither or her Caylynn will be able to escape.

For the majority of the film, Jacinta and her family are cast in a mostly unflattering light. While you may not like them very much, you find yourself rooting for them. That maybe admitting they have a problem will lead to the change we’ve always been told comes after acknowledgment. You see Jacinta’s daughter Caylynn as this sweet, loving, ten-year-old when the film opens, and you want everyone to do good for her to break this cycle. But as time passes and Jacinta continues to struggle, you can feel changes in Caylynn as she is disenchanted with who she believed her mother to be. Maybe she will get lucky and find that love and attention she craves from a healthy source. Still, if she follows in their footsteps, perhaps we can have a sequel with three generations of people struggling with addiction and life in prison.

Life is hard for Jacinta, and Earnshaw doesn’t paint it as anything other than that. Some of the darker scenes seem to take on a lo-fi effect like watching a home video, only adding to the sense of intimacy of our access to her life. There are moments of sweetness and humor, but it only serves as a contrast to the depths Jacinta finds herself in. Perhaps the most impactful element is how clearly the family discusses their mistakes and shortcomings and how they feel powerless to forge a new path for themselves. Earnshaw is still young, having recently been named to Doc NYC’s 40 under 40 list, and I look forward to seeing more of what promises to be a bright career. “Jacinta” can be a difficult watch but is beautifully done in nearly every aspect and earns a 4.5 out of 5.

Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Director: Jessica Earnshaw
Producer: Jessica Earnshaw, Holly Meeh, Nimisha Mukerji
Release Date: October 8th, 2021
Runtime: 1h 45m