Written by MaKayla Grace Lundell, Photo Courtesy of SAVFF
Movie classics often use the idea of hope to immerse the audience in the film. “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Pursuit of Happiness,” “The Shawshank Redemption” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” are just a few examples. Faced with insurmountable odds, the protagonist clings onto the only thing they can count on. Even if the main character is on death row, the audience connects with them through their desperation for hope – something everyone has experienced one time or another in their life.
This as well goes for the film “Clemency.” Bernadine Williams is the polarizing character whose job is to take away the very thing the audience holds onto. Though, we begin to connect with her when the narrative humanizes her from a heartless Warden. She experiences the physiological symptoms of her and becomes weakened by them. The story reveals the reality of right and wrong as just a shade of grey rather than something that’s black or white. This brings the audience an uncomfortable understanding and a want to be whole again – to have hope again.
Then we enter into answers that respond in the most unlikely of fashions; a prisoner on death row named Anthony Woods. As Woods may be Williams’ saving grace, Woods looks to his Warden for anything that could save him. In return all of us are on the edge of our seats wondering if either of them would be the hero. Would clemency be granted by the Governor? Will Williams be whole again? Is Woods going to be set free?
Every one of their emotions pours out of their characters, and the desperation for hope [when it isn’t visible] is prevalent throughout the film. Just when a sliver of hope is gain it is then snatched away. Showing us the impossible situation the two are in.
Isolation reveals itself in both of their lives as the film builds. Screen time often captures these two while they are alone pushed up to one end of the screen with nowhere to go, in repeated shots detailing their daily routine and long, wide shots of them occupying an otherwise empty space.
The film itself relies heavily on the characters to express emotions through body language and less so on words. In some areas of the film it gets confusing as to who is who and why they are important. Forcing the audience to really focus on the characters reaction to each person. At one point, Williams slight nod with no reaction led me to assume the news then wasn’t good. This left me a bit confused as to what was to come. In the end the slight confusion faded into my own emotions at the end of the film.
