Originally broadcast in Britain on ITV in 1995-96, The Governor stars two-time Oscar nominee Janet McTeer as Helen Hewitt, the deputy in charge of a London women’s prison who is given a surprise appointment as warden—or, in British lingo, governor—of Barfield, a notoriously violent men’s prison. Barfield’s staff are not entirely pleased to have a female outsider taking the helm, and the inmates tax her strength with their activities, which include murder, assault, and escape. Adding to the problems are racial tensions among the correctional officers. Crime writer Lynda La Plante, best known for the Prime Suspect series, delivers a brutally honest view of prison life that underscores the complexities of running this type of an institution. McTeer gives a raw and visceral performance, and she is backed by an excellent supporting cast that includes Idris Elba and Ron Donachie as officers, Sophie Okonedo as a prison staff member, and Eamonn Walker as one very unpleasant prisoner. Compiling all 12 episodes from the show’s two-season run, this gripping edge-of-the-seat drama is highly recommended. (P. Hall)
The Governor: The Complete Collection
RLJ, 5 discs, 662 min., not rated, DVD: $59.99 Volume 33, Issue 4
The Governor: The Complete Collection
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