ON THE YARD

(Note: Director Raphael D. Silver will introduce his film on May 17). A tough, realistic prison drama destined to be the most gripping feature of the Festival, ON THE YARD marks the impressive directing debut of Clevelander Raphael D. Silver. ON THE YARD creates an intense, brooding atmosphere of muted desperation as the prisoners play the grim game of staying in one piece and keeping their sanity from day to day. All the film lacks is cliches. Producer Joan Micklin Silver, who is married to Raphael Silver, is the director of the highly acclaimed “Hester Street” (1975) and “Between the Lines” (1977). Young star John Heard is among the most talented character actors in Hollywood. “. . . the mood of Silver's ON THE YARD is sober and matter of fact but attentive to nuances of anger, power and affection.” – David Denby, New York Magazine “The delicately poised world of psychopathic aggression is relentlessly portrayed by the unswerving camera and the fine acting of the principals.” – Chicago Film Festival