JR's Documentary 'Tehachapi' on California Prison Mural Hits French Theaters

French artist JR, known for monumental installations and social engagement, releases a new documentary titled 'Tehachapi'. The 92-minute film, co-directed with Tasha Van Zandt, documents a mural created in 2019 at the maximum-security Tehachapi prison in California, involving inmates, their families, and prison staff. The mural featured a giant photograph of inmates, former inmates, staff, and victims posing together, composed of 338 paper strips laid on the ground, visible only from above. The film premiered at the Freestyle section of the Festa del Cinema di Roma 2023 and has been shown in museums and galleries. It debuts in French cinemas on June 12, 2024. JR will attend previews in Lyon, Marseille, and Paris with Kevin, a former inmate who had a swastika tattoo removed and has been on parole for two years. The project highlights the transformative power of art and the resilience of incarcerated individuals, many of whom remain at Tehachapi for life.