If you've been waiting for a follow up to The Watermelon Woman, get ready to be blown away by Cheryl Dunye's prison portrait, Stranger Inside. Sharply crafted with expert cinematography, a dynamic storyline, and powerful performances (from veterans, newcomers, and real-life convicts), this work solidifies Dunye's place as a potent voice in new American film.

In her feature film debut, Yolonda Ross is absolutely stunning as the life-hardened African American convict Treasure Lee. When Treasure is transferred to the State penitentiary, she sees it as a dream come true: "Brownie" Lee, a lifer at the State prison, may be the mother Treasure has never known. But to get close to Brownie, she must prove blood relations run deeper than the prison family that surrounds Brownie. It will take formidable strength to overcome the system of punishment and lies that has shaped both their lives.

With 90,000 incarcerated women in the United States, 90 percent of whom are single mothers, a frank look at women's lives behind bars is long overdue. Dunye grapples with this difficult reality with incredible insight in this outstanding film.