Behind iron bars and stone walls, men stripped of freedom search for dignity and redemption.

A decade after escaping homelessness and addiction, director Rinaldas Tomasevicius gains unprecedented access to take us behind the bars of a high-security Lithuanian correctional facility. Driven by a personal mission to empower others, “i want to be human” shines a light on the lives, hopes, and dreams of men facing the very struggles he once survived.

Tomasevicius’s intimate, observational filming style enables him to move seamlessly among the inmates, documenting their daily routines, structured activities, and moments of quiet reflection. Accepted as one of their own, Tomasevicius captures unscripted laughter, candid conversations, and vulnerable confessions about existence, survival, and the fear of stepping back into freedom.

“i want to be human” is a poignant exploration of dignity and redemption in a world many of us have never seen. The film offers an intimate view into the lives of those often forgotten, challenging us to look beyond the crimes and believe in the possibility of change.

Mike Arnott