The three central performances keep you watching right up to the Fade Out but against this the director doesn't seem to know what genre he is working in so it holds the interest in spite of inept direction. On paper it's a simple premise: The warden of a women's prison becomes sexually involved with one of the prisoners. The warden is portrayed initially as being happily married with a young daughter and a healthy sexual relationship with his wife, who also works in the Prison Service. As warden he could, presumably, sleep with any and every one of the prisoners but has clearly not been tempted until a new girl arrives. The prisoner instigates the affair and soon the warden is taking enormous risks that put his job at stake and costs him his marriage but what is never made clear is whether or not the girl is manipulating him. These are minor beefs in a movie where the acting is everything.
Review of Down by Love
