Mike Comber

As the families of both the prisoner and the victim of the crime watch the execution through the curtain, we too are watching Alfrie Woodard’s character through the same curtain; are we looking for justice as she slowly breaks down through the film? Are we content that she feels remorse?Or are we supposed to feel empathy for her and the lonely horrors she endures that subtly torment her as the movie progresses? The film is beautifully ambivalent in the depiction of the trials of a Prison Warden managing death row. The excellent supporting cast help to seal our confusion towards the subtle complexity of Alfrie’s character, with the prison team looking for her leadership and the prisoners’ lawyer fighting against her methods and principles at every level. The film keeps the curtain open long enough for us to judge, without passing its own judgement.