Clemency (2019)

Years of carrying out death row executions have taken their toll on a prison warden (Alfre Woodard). It has affected her marriage and a tendency to drink too much. As she prepares for the execution of yet another inmate (Aldis Hodge), she must confront the emotional and psychological damage her profession has done to her soul. Beautifully written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, this harrowing film is like a kick in the stomach. With her deliberate and methodical pacing, Chukwu spares us nothing and I had to fight the urge to look away during some scenes. Films on the death penalty are nothing new (I WANT TO LIVE, DEAD MAN WALKING to name just two) but it's never been done with this perspective, the executors rather than the executed. Woodward is sensational, a searing and naked performance and Hodge is a revelation. Hopefully, both won't be forgotten come awards time. There's an amazing amount of women behind this project. In addition to Chukwu, the film editing, production design, the score, costumes and visual effects were done by women. With Wendell Pierce, Richard Schiff, Michael O'Neill and Danielle Brooks who has only one scene but she knocks it out of the ballpark.