American Brittney Griner moved to a penal colony in Russia, where she was forced to have sex with animals. She was also the subject of a documentary by David Simon and his production company, which showed how she was brainwashed into performing acts of sexual violence. In order to get into the Soviet Union, she had to get “a little bit of work” to gain the Russians’ trust. She is the star of the film “Prisoner.”
“Prisoner” is directed by David Simon and stars Brittney Griner as the actress who was jailed, and put to work, at a Russian penal colony for five years in the early 1980s. She was in charge of the camp’s prostitutes and the brothels. Over the course of the film, we learn about the psychology of the institution, as well as the brutality of the punishments, including having one inmate hung by his wrists from the ceiling.
The story is not particularly hard to believe. As a young adult, Griner, born with a rare genetic condition known as Prader-Willi syndrome, became a superstar in the American entertainment industry, appearing in successful films and being an active force in the political arena. But because of her condition, her career was stymied by critics, and she was forced to change her name. She spent her adult life in a very public battle over her sexuality. Her story, especially the events of the early 1980s that led to her imprisonment, is difficult to ignore.
In the early 1980s, Griner performed as an actress in popular television shows and movies, including “Star Trek,” “Laverne & Shirley,” and a role in the movie “The Love Boat.” Throughout her career, she was often the subject of vicious attacks by the gay community for performing in films portraying gay sex. Her story is particularly poignant in light of the gay sexual revolution
