A bus station is the first stop on the road to freedom for former inmates in Texas

When formerly incarcerated men are released from the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, their first step into freedom is usually the local Greyhound bus station, located only a block away. The short documentary Huntsville Station captures a handful of these recently released men – some of whom have spent decades locked up – at a surreal crossroads, as they smoke cigarettes, call loved ones, chat with one another and quietly reflect on the moment. Making excellent use of their observational style, the US filmmakers Jamie Meltzer and Chris Filippone explore the far-ranging spectrum of emotions present at the scene – some spoken, others expressed with widened eyes or the hint of a smile – with subtlety and sincerity.