US, 2019, 112 minutes, Colour.

Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pearce, Danielle Brooks, Michael O'Neill, Richard Gunn.

Directed by Chinnye Chukwa.

As the title suggests, this is a strong film about clemency from authorities in the case of those condemned to be executed. The film does not pull many punches, opening with an execution sequence in some detail, the reality for the condemned man, the presence of the staff, the role of the chaplain, the paramedic for the injection – and the injections failing and to find other places for the injection, ultimately the death, the impact on everyone of the botched procedure.

The focus of the film is on the warden, Bernadine Williams, one of her best serious performances by Alfre Woodard. She is serious about her job, no exceptions, the letter of the law. The prison has 1000 inmates, 12 on death row. We see her at work in her office, discussions about the media and visitors, confronting lawyers, her visiting Anthony Woods (a moving performance by Aldis Hodge) who is about to be executed. She meets the parents of the victim and refuses permission for the grandson to be present at the execution, despite appeals to her emotions, exceptions.

Her work takes a toll on her, she goes to a bar to drink, she has been married to her husband for some time (a sympathetic performance by Wendell Pearce), cannot sleep, becomes more alienated from her husband who sees her as a shell of herself and leaves. There is the possibility for reconciliation.

The film focuses on Anthony Woods, the issue of whether he was guilty or not, the continued support of his lawyer, a sympathetic performance by Richard Schiff, a lawyer who is becoming weary of his work after 30 years and the continued frustrations. There is a strong scene where he confronts Bernadine in her office.

There is a rehearsal for the next execution, Bernadine’s deputy standing in as the man to be executed. Then there is the reality of the execution, the role of the chaplain (whom Bernadine has visited for advice), the staff, the paramedic. However, while Anthony Woods is dying, there is a long, very long, close-up of Bernadine’s face, the audience reflecting on what she is thinking and feeling. All the formalities are finished – and Bernadine walks down the corridor, to what future? Some clemency or her continued sense of conscientious observing of rules and regulations and the law?

1. The title? The theme? In the context of capital punishment, executions?
2. The American city, the state with capital punishment? Homes and bars? The musical score?
3. The prison, the plant, exteriors and interiors, corridors, cells, offices? Rooms for visitors? The detail of the execution room, the equipment, rehearsals and testing, the actual executions? The observers?
4. Alfre Woodard’s portrait of Bernadine Williams, warden, conscientious, the letter of the law, no exceptions? Relationship with her staff, her Deputy and the discussions, the media? Her visit to the prisoners, especially Anthony Woods? 12 men on death row? Seeing her at work, the contrast and her going to the bar, her drinking, conversations? Meeting with the deputy? Meeting with Marty? At home, her relationship with her husband, long-standing, his support, her nightmares, watching television in the night, feelings of alienation from her husband, the discussions, her not wanting to be touched, his feeling she was a shell of herself, her going to the school to meet him, his rejection? His coming home, together, attempts at support? His opinions?
5. Anthony Woods, the accusation, the killing, found guilty, 15 years in prison, death row? As a person, generally well-behaved? Marty and his support, hopes for clemency? His relying on Marty and his presence? Sense of despair, banging his head on the wall, to hospital? The letter from his partner, the revelation about his son, the photo, her visit, his response, her not being sorry, his walking away? The possibility for his son to visit, not turning up? The discussions with the chaplain, his support?
6. The demonstrators against capital punishment, the vigils outside the prison, their placards, “I am Anthony Woods”?
7. Marty, 30 years a lawyer, his cases and causes, the visits to Anthony, discussions, support, confrontations with the warden, his decision to retire, Anthony thinking he was walking away? Walking past the protesters? On television and his opinion? Hopes, presence at the execution?
8. Bernadine and her husband, at home, his leaving, her going to the school, the glimpse of him at school and the poem about what people see and don’t see?
9. The assistant warden, supporting Bernadine, volunteering for the rehearsal of the execution? The prospect of his having a better job? Applying?
10. The chaplain, his role, the prologue and his support of the man to be executed, prayer, touch? Bernadine going to see him at the church, the discussions about his retirement, his wife having had enough? The toll on himself? The return to the prison, comforting Anthony, the text? His presence at the execution?
11. The initial execution, the detail, the procedure, strapping the prisoner, the microphone and comment, the witnesses, his mother? The injection, the failure, searching for a possibility, ultimate death? Public reaction and media reaction to the botched procedure? As a grounds for clemency for Anthony?
12. The visit of the parents of the murder victim, the emotional plea, the grandson to witness the execution, Bernadine and her staunch refusals? Their coming to the execution?
13. The rehearsal for the next execution, the deputy standing in, the man with the switch unable to carry on, leaving?
14. No reprieve, Bernadine, Anthony strapped in, his declaration of innocence, office of compassion, the doctor, the injection?
15. The final close-ups of Bernadine, the long time with the camera on her face, her expressions, her reactions, while the execution was taking place? Her job, her conscientious attitude, her understanding more of Anthony Woods, the reality of capital punishment? The aftermath of the execution, formalities done, Bernadine walking down the corridor – and what she would do in the future?