Beautiful, bleak Sundance favorite enters tormented mind of death row prison warden
Coming to Downtown Bozeman’s Ellen Theatre on Wednesday, February 19th, Bozeman Film Society screens writer/director Chinoye Chukwu’s second feature film, Clemency. The quietly disturbing drama stars Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard. The screening begins at 7pm.
Woodard plays Bernadine Williams, a prison warden preparing to oversee her 12th execution. Viewers enter Williams’ mind as she must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.
Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Award, Clemency is set in the world of death-row inmates, but unlike the infinitely more popular film Just Mercy, it’s not a rousing, good-guys-vs-bad-guys tale of deserved triumph with predictable story beats, but a more nuanced look at a life behind emotional bars.
Woodard’s magnificent screen presence is supported by terrific turns by Aldis Hodge as death-row prisoner Anthony Woods, Danielle Brooks as his girlfriend, and Richard Schiff as Anthony’s lawyer, Marty Lumetta, the picture of rumpled, put-upon frustration.
A resonant film with emotional weight and pertinent themes, The Hollywood Reporter calls Clemency “engrossing and acutely affecting… a superbly crafted film.” Rated R, run time is 112 minutes.
Reserved seats for Clemency are $9.75 for adults or $9.25 for seniors and students. Advance tickets available at www.theellentheatre.org (plus service fees). The Ellen lobby opens one hour before the screening for refreshments.
Bozeman Film Society seeks out and presents independent films which engage, entertain, and foster an understanding of the world community around us. Visit www.bozemanfilmsociety.org for film previews and further information – and “Keep ‘Em Flickering!” •