In a divided America, progressive activist and political commentator Van Jones controversially works across party lines on landmark criminal justice reform and a more humane response to the addiction crisis. Attempting to be a bridge builder in a time of extreme polarization takes Van and a coalition of unlikely allies deep into the inner workings of a divisive administration, internal debates within both parties, and the lives of frontline activists fighting for their communities.
THE FIRST STEP premiered as an Official Selection at the Tribeca Film Festival, and was an official selection at AFI DOCS, Bentonville Film Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, and more than 40 other film festivals across the US.
Facing fierce opposition from both political parties in a climate where bipartisanship has become a dirty word, Jones and his team enlist the support of justice-impacted individuals, faith leaders, grassroots activists and cultural figures — including Kim Kardashian — to pass legislation that would fix some broken aspects of the justice system and bring thousands of
incarcerated people home early. The bill’s champions immediately find themselves navigating a high-stakes game of political chess in Washington, D.C. Their quest brings them face-to-face with progressive champions like Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Senators Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, as well as conservative figures like U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Kellyanne Conway, Jared Kushner — and ultimately, Donald Trump himself.
While trying to pass a bipartisan bill through a deeply polarized Congress, Jones is condemned by the right for his progressive beliefs — and by the left for working with conservatives. The film reveals an intimate portrait of an activist’s isolation and internal struggles, what it takes to make change in a divided nation, and everyday people in both political parties drawn into a historic fight for freedom and justice.
This is a film about impossible things. After all, it is next to impossible to pass meaningful federal legislation -- especially on a hot-button, racialized issue like criminal justice reform. But we did it. It is also nearly impossible for conservative, rural leaders to join forces with progressive, urban leaders -- for any reason at all. But in this film, they came together.
It is almost impossible to capture on film the roller coaster process by which a controversial bill actually becomes a law. It is even harder to transform that footage into a powerful, authentic and moving documentary. But the Kramer Brothers and their team got it done.
After Trump’s election, I had to make the toughest choice of my professional career. I had worked for most of my adult life to fix the criminal justice system.
During the Obama administration, at long last, we had begun to make bipartisan headway -- with both parties finally expressing concern about the system’s most punitive and draconian laws. But Trump initially was no fan of prison justice reform. He just as easily could have launched a “tough on crime” prison building boom -- and rendered justice reform as partisan and polarizing as health care reform or climate solutions. To prevent that outcome, I joined forces with Jared Kushner, whose father had gone to prison. And we not only passed the First Step Act -- we kept the issue of justice reform so bipartisan that everyone from Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden to Donald Trump ran for office as champions of fixing the system.
Along the way, my team and I came under fire from both sides of the aisle. My organization lost donors and supporters. I lost friends and my brief standing as a darling of the progressive community. But the pain was worth it. More than 20,000 people have come home from federal prison early, thanks to that one bill. Some people -- especially those sent away for unconscionably-long crack cocaine offenses -- would never have come home.
It was important to let the Kramer Brothers film everything we were doing. Win, lose or draw -- we knew that we were in a moment of history that needed to be documented. And we knew that there would be lessons for all sides, no matter the outcome.
I am proud that the film shows all of my faults, flaws, mistakes and shortcomings. I am proud that it shows my many critics and detractors in a fair light. I am also proud that nobody in the film comes out looking terrible (except maybe Sen. Tom Cotton, but hey -- what can you do?). I think this doc represents a breakthrough, in that regard. The antagonist is really the status quo -- mainly the partisan interests and toxic political culture that make change so difficult. That was our real enemy. People think it’s impossible to tell authentic stories about American politics without tearing down one side, to lift up another side. But this film shows you don’t have to do that. Both as a law and as a movie -THE FIRST STEP proves that much more is possible than most of us dare to believe.
When you open your mind, all things are possible. Watch THE FIRST STEP.
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