“Clemency,” was inspired by the true story of Troy Davis’ Execution by the State of Georgia in 2011
This month, the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the Sundance Film Festival was awarded to the film “Clemency,” directed by Chinonye Chukwu.
Critics and Viewers Rave About Clemency
Clemency is acclaimed at the Rotten Tomatoes movie review site with the rare “100%” score. Everyone loves this movie. Moreover, not only are there are an overwhelming number of rave reviews for both the movie itself but also for the performances of its lead actors, Alfre Woodard as prison warden Bernadine Williams, and Aldis Hodge as the condemned man.
Read Variety’s review here.
The Complexities Involved in Sentencing Someone to Death
From a death penalty defense perspective, the film helps to explain the complex realities of the government sentencing someone to die for their actions. Unlike earlier capital punishment approaches, this one delves into the perspective of someone within the Death Row system itself: the warden who must oversee the executions.
A summary from Film Affinity describes Clemency this way:
Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard) is a prison warden who, over the years, has been drifting away from her husband while dutifully carrying out executions in a maximum security prison. When she strikes up a unique bond with death-row inmate Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge), a layer of emotional skin is peeled back, forcing Bernadine to confront the complex—and often contradictory—relationship between good intentions, unrequited desires, and what it means to be sanctioned to kill.
Clemency’s Approach and Death Penalty Defense
This is an important film for those interested in the issues surrounding capital punishment in this country. Not only is it a stunning success, but it shines a light on the psychological and all too human circumstances that must be considered and addressed by the defense in any death penalty trial’s penalty phase. Terry Lenamon and Bernadine Williams would have a lot to discuss ….
Be on the lookout for this Must See Movie at your local theater.