Clemency

In select theaters
December 27^th 2019

114 minutes

English

Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard). The emotional wedge in her marriage grows. Memories of a recently botched execution plague her daily. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill. Written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, and starring Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Wendell Pierce, Richard Schiff and Danielle Brooks, the film features an original score by Kathryn Bostic and an original song by Laura Mvula.

starring...

Alfre Woodard

Warden Bernadine Williams

Wendell Pierce

Jonathan Williams

Aldis Hodge

Anthony Woods

Richard Schiff

Marty Lumetta

Danielle Brooks

Evette

LaMonica Garrett

Major Logan Cartwright

Michael O'Neill

Chaplain Kendricks

Writer/Director

Chinonye Chukwu

Cinematography

Phyllis Housen

Music

Kathryn Bostic

Film Editing

Eric Branco

Production Design

Margaux Rust

Art Direction

David Duarte

Set Decoration

Devynne Lauchner

90% on the CINEMETER

97% - Dec 8, 2019

Beautiful, spare, cut to the bone. Not a lost second in its execution (double entendre intended): writing, filming, lighting, music/sound, acting. And on top of it all: excellent advocacy.
San Francisco Member

incredibly researched and beautifully produced; fabulous casting and acting. Perfect use of long silences. Strong final words from Anthony Woods.
San Francisco Member

The title is ironic: there is no clemency in this movie, just a raw glimpse into death row, especially the ethical dilemma of the death penalty itself. I am pro capital punishment, but this movie gave me pause.
San Francisco Member

Totally visceral movie from the throat-grabbing first moment to the last. One of the best movies I wish I had never seen.
San Francisco Member

Unique, fresh and brave piece of work. Alfre Woodard hold the entire thing together and the score keeps us grounded in the tragedy we are witnessing on all fronts. Haunting.
San Francisco Member

MIL

93% - Dec 15, 2019

Great acting and incredible portrayal of the subject matter. Very good!
Milwaukee Member

Grim. Terrifying. Realistic. Excellent acting.
Milwaukee Member

Very powerful but very difficult to watch.
Milwaukee Member

STL

94% - Dec 15, 2019

An important film that portrays issues rarely dealt with on film: realities of death row, complexity and morality of death penalty, impact of incarceration and execution on prisons and prison staff, and portrayal of PTSD.
St. Louis Member

This was one of those movies that I will be thinking about for a very long time.
St. Louis Member

This was no fluff realism at its best. Just as 'Dead Man Walking.' I loved the cast choices. I'm so glad to have seen it. Everyone should see this. The subtle, secondary prison bars for them, the bedroom--loved the Roman blinds on each window.
St. Louis Member

Profound movie on every level. Alfre Woodard as warden Bernadine is beyond superb. Direction and writing by Chukwu is Oscar worthy. Movie's long silences as or more important than dialogue. One of the best films in Cinema Club selections. A study of PTSD and burn-out as a kind of death.
St. Louis Member

I recommend this to anyone who supports the death penalty. How can anyone continue to support this barbarity to our collective humanity? We all suffer. I suffered through this movie. I wanted to leave so many times, but I had to witness.
St. Louis Member

No clemency for Anthony and none for Bernadine. A major portrayal of the evils of capital punishment. It destroys everyone associated with it. REFORM!
St. Louis Member

Excellent film, well constructed, but it was tough to watch. Acting was amazing. Alfre Woodard's face during the second execution was a work of art. Her portrayal as the warden certainly showed how difficult and stressful her job was. Very meaningful in her struggle to be respectful to all those around her. The situation was like a rock dropped in a pond, creating concentric rings radiating outward affecting so many--warden, prison staff, lawyer, priest, family, parents of the victim, husband, protesters. It didn't cover the crimes to explain why these men were in prison.
St. Louis Member

I imagine Cinema Club members wonder what they might do about state sanctioned lethal injection. One thing might be to urge healthcare organizations to divest companies/pharmacies that manufacture the drugs used. One of those is Centene, referenced in articles on buzzfeed and molawyersmedia. Shame on Centene.
St. Louis Member

ATL

95% - Dec 15, 2019

BOS

92% - Dec 8, 2019

Superb film Profoundly powerful. I appreciate the chance to see and better understand how death penalty impac us all.
Boston Member

The film is devastating. Extraordinarily acted. This is the best argument against the death penalty.
Boston Member

Wow! It was such a wonderful character study of the warden. Remarkable!
Boston Member

So moving, poignant. What excellent acting.
Boston Member

Very powerful and moving (several times).
Boston Member

Unbelievable! Well done--very difficult topic!
Boston Member

Brilliant acting (several times).
Boston Member

Thank you for showing this film.
Boston Member

A must see film!
Boston Member

84% - Dec 8, 2019

Brilliant on every level: writing, directing, acting, cinematography, music. One of the best films I've seen in the Cinema Club. The experience was harrowing - and I am grateful. Everyone should see this movie!
Greater New Haven Member

Powerful performance by Woodard drove home the emotional impact of taking another person’s life – no matter the reason. The supporting cast also helped keep us engaged and caring about the lives of all the characters. The drab cinematography and set decoration se the scene perfectly. This is a dynamic, deeply moving film that once again shows that ‘taking a life’ is not a humane decision.
Greater New Haven Member

Amazing acting by everyone. I thought it is a reflection of our brittle and polarized world. Where is the room for doubt and mercy? Why do the few respond powerfully and blindly to humanity with coldness? What price do we all pay?
Greater New Haven Member

Powerfully gripping. An insight into the stress of the prison world. In order to perform her role as warden, Bernadine almost became a robot consumed by her duties and finally the tears at the end.
Greater New Haven Member

Searing, dignified and unflinching look at what it means to carry out an undignified policy that strips away humanity of all who come into contact with it. Some of the best use of silence and pauses between dialogue that I’ve seen. We are challenged to sit with the question: to whom do we grant clemency on many levels? Woodard was stunning.
Greater New Haven Member

Stunning performances. Adds something unique to an area that has been explored, but the focus on the collateral damage of the death penalty is devastating. Painful for good reasons.
Greater New Haven Member

A moving, incredible film. Acting superb. Individual portrayals were deep and clear. What a statement for criminal justice reform!
Greater New Haven Member

What a powerful movie. I loved how this extremely difficult topic was handled. This shows the effect the death penalty has on everyone involved.
Greater New Haven Member

Almost unbearable in its power. Could cause the end of the death penalty.
Greater New Haven Member

Excellent film on a topic not considered in my memory.
Greater New Haven Member

As devastating as the death penalty itself. [Similar comment: ‘Riveting and devastating.]
Greater New Haven Member

A mind-opening yet heart-wrenching account of what the public rarely knows about. Life is so profoundly complicated and in so many facets. Alfre Woodard was great.
Greater New Haven Member

Very hard movie to watch – and very necessary.
Greater New Haven Member

Not one shred of easy in this film, and that’s the point.
Greater New Haven Member

Intense look behind the wall that separates, Exploitation of people of color in the criminal injustice system is written on the face of the warden despite the ‘cordial’ interracial connections. What is the purpose of ‘dignity’ here in the state killing machine?
Greater New Haven Member

Everyone should see this. Thank you!
Greater New Haven Member

73% - Dec 8, 2019

Very quiet movie. That’s probably the only way you can make this material feel genuine.
Washington, DC Member

I found this movie exceptionally powerful. I had never thought of the emotional toll on the people who carried out executions. Alfre Woodard’s performance was exceptional. With so few words her struggle was apparent. It was difficult to watch but I think important. Very thought provoking.
Washington, DC Member

For me, a perfect movie club film - excellent, but I wouldn’t have gone to the theater for it. So glad to have been shown it.
Washington, DC Member

Alfre Woodard deserves any and every award she gets. I’ll be catching up with and following Chukwu’s career too.
Washington, DC Member

Terrific performances by Woodard and Hodge. Also, Schiff in particular. Wendell Pierce edifies every production he is in. Very strong point of view and supporting cinematography. Pacing was sometimes a challenge - I was slow to be drawn in. Once I was drawn in, I was very drawn in. I also noticed the slow, long takes and thought it underscored the tremendous emotional toll of this work. And the inhumanity of our entire corrections and death penalty stance in this country.
Washington, DC Member

I almost walked out after the first execution, but I’m glad I stayed. The film was excellent and important.
Washington, DC Member

Clemency ©

Neon