#SUNDANCE: “CLEMENCY”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Prison Warden, Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard), starts slipping away from her husband after several years of carrying-out executions at a maximum security prison.

Clemency is a fresh and emotional take on the Prison Drama. It is a character study primarily of two people: the warden and death-row inmate Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge). Writer-Director Chinonye Chukwu has created an absorbing and heartbreaking feature that subtly poses ethical questions while following characters who are trying to find redemption. Both Actors, Woodard and Hodge, translate the internal torments of their characters into visual struggles. Woodard is a force-of-nature as Williams. From the opening scene until the last, you watch more of her slowly slip away the further her profession takes her. And Hodge is a scene-stealer who leaves a lasting impression.

Clemency screens at Sundance on Jan 27 at 6PM at Library PC, Jan 29 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan 31 at 12PM at Temple PC, Feb 1 at 6:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC, and Feb 2 at 8:30AM at Egyptian PC.