Inspired by True Story

BREAK THE CYCLE tells the true story of genesis of Proverbs 226 and how children are rebuilding their relationships with incarcerated parents. The film follows the lives of 5 inmates and their families. It tells a story of redemption and restored relationships between the incarcerated parents and their children. Proverbs 226 plays a key role in restoring these relationships by bringing families together. The film showcases the events that led to Cyril Prabhu, the founder of Proverbs 226 being held at gun point for a day which led him to investigate the data related incarceration and the factors that lead to higher rates of incarceration. He quickly came to a conclusion that fatherlessness plays a key role in a child’s trajectory to incarceration. A quarter of all children with Incarcerated parents do not graduate high school. High school dropouts are 6 times more likely to go to prison than graduates. With this information in hand, he was determined to lower the odds for the at-risk children. Thus began a long journey with the Department of Adult Correction in the Carolinas and several other states to change policies and allow the children to see their incarcerated parents beyond a small visitation window. The movie highlights the challenges and miracles of this journey.

A decade ago, at the Brown Creek Correctional Institution in Polkton, NC a dozen children ran into the arms of their fathers. This day marked the first time the incarcerated fathers washed their Childrens’ feet symbolizing asking for their forgiveness and new beginnings. 

While Proverbs 226 has expanded far beyond its birth in the Carolinas, it is primed to transform the neighboring Polkton prison facility that has been empty since 2009 into a trade school specifically for children with incarcerated parents. The battle is not educating these children, it is changing their mindset. The mission stays true to its namesake Proverbs 226, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Cyril explains, “when we bring fathers back into the lives of these children, crime in America will come down.” 

Final Production for the film was done by Kappa studios. Steve Curtis Chapman has licensed the heartfelt Cinderella song where the incarcerated fathers dance with their daughters. Richard Nord Academy Award winner, ACE Eddie Award winner, and British Academy Film Award nominee  did final edits on the film.