Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” May be on its Way to Oscars Honour

Nigerian-American filmmaker, Chinonye Chukwu, may be on the road to Oscar recognition with her acclaimed movie, “Clemency“. The movie has generated a lot of attention after the filmmaker became the first black woman to win the US Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, the Sundance Film Festival highest honour.

“Clemency” follows the life of a prison Warden, Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard) who, years of carrying out death row executions have now taken a toll on. 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.

The movie was recently purchased for the U.S by Neon, distributors best known for the handling of Oscar winning movie, “I, Tonya”.

Amy Nicholson praised Alfre Woodard in her Sundance review for Variety:

If Woodard is hoping for her overdue second Oscar nomination after 1983’s ‘Cross Creek,’ she’s got a decent shot with this excruciating character arc.

The brilliance of the production coupled with the recent ground breaking success of Chinonye Chukwu could mean Clemency could be coping a couple of nominations at the next awards season. We very much hope so!

Watch the trailer below:

Photo Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images