During the seven years of documenting this story, a tenuous triangle forms between Sam, the filmmaker, Ben Selkow, and the filmmaking process itself. Sam and Ben's relationship is brought to a dramatic precipice by Sam's cycle of manic episodes and a light is eventually cast on the ethical responsibilities of the filmmaker to his subject. While Sam's life deteriorates on screen, the question is asked: "Are the wider benefits of showing an audience someone's plight worthwhile if the very process of making the documentary may be damaging the subject?"

Featuring interviews with world-renowned mental health clinician and author Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison of Johns Hopkins University, A Summer in the Cage is being used as a training and advocacy tool. It has also been screened at law schools, universities, federal defenders' offices, psychiatric care provider, awareness, family and support groups, amongst many others forums.