San Quentin State Prison, notorious for its hardened criminals and grim atmosphere, becomes an unlikely setting for a story of hope and transformation in this week’s Storyville. “26.2 to Life: Inside the San Quentin Prison Marathon” follows three lifers convicted of murder as they embark on the grueling challenge of running a marathon within the prison walls.
The film doesn’t shy away from the crimes committed, but it smartly avoids the usual clichés of prison documentaries. The focus here isn’t on the past but on the present—the sweat, the exhaustion, and the surprising camaraderie forged through shared hardship. The crowded prison yard becomes a track, each lap a step towards not just physical endurance, but a kind of internal liberation.
These men, defined by their past mistakes, find a measure of redemption in the disciplined pursuit of an almost impossible goal. It’s a testament to the human capacity for change, even in the most restrictive of environments.
Storyville airs Tuesday, February 11, 2025, on BBC Four.
