Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.
Acting
Alfre Woodard's final scene—minimal dialogue, maximum devastation.
Direction
Chinonye Chukwu's restrained framing makes silence scream.
Director
Chinonye Chukwu
Alfre Woodard
Warden Bernadine Williams
Richard Schiff
Marty Lumetta
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Woods
Wendell Pierce
Jonathan Williams
Danielle Brooks
Evette Wilkinson
Michael O'Neill
Chaplain David Kendricks
Richard Gunn
Deputy Thomas Morgan
LaMonica Garrett
Major Logan Cartwright
Vernee Watson
Mrs. Collins
Dennis Haskins
Mr. Collins
John Churchill
Officer Brooks
Alex Castillo
Victor Jimenez
Alma Martinez
Ms. Jiminez
Michelle Bonilla
Sonia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chinonye Chukwu became the first Black woman to win Sundance's Grand Jury Prize for this film, beating out over 4,000 submissions.
The lethal injection sequence was filmed in an actual decommissioned execution chamber; Woodard refused to rehearse there, saving her raw response for the single take used.
US
