Father Jack, despite the speculation among the other prisoners, confesses his real crime to the prison guard with whom he wants to have a relationship.Release is a thought-provoking and well-made film that tackles complex and timely issues. The narrative appears to be engaging and unpredictable, keeping the audience on edge until the end.
Father Jack Gillie walks into prison already branded a sinner. He’s been convicted of a crime that makes the Church wash its hands of him, his parish turn their backs, and his faith wobble hard. Inside, the other inmates assume the worst – they’re convinced he’s in for pedophilia – and they start poisoning the mind of his teenage cellmate, Rook, with whispers and doubt.
When Jack pulls Rook out of a brutal beating, he doesn’t earn respect – he paints a target on his back. The prison pack closes in, and Jack becomes prey.
Help shows up from the last place you’d expect: Martin, a prison officer. Martin offers protection, and somewhere between danger and confinement, something else sparks. Jack and Martin fall for each other and begin a secret, illegal affair behind locked doors. As trust grows, Jack finally feels safe enough to admit the truth about the crime that put him there, and that honesty pushes them into dreaming out loud: a life together once Jack is released.
But prison doesn’t allow happy endings without a fight. Max, the gang leader, has his own agenda. He sets out to destroy the relationship and uses the Governess, Heather, to suspend Martin for misconduct after exposing the affair. With Martin gone, Jack is left isolated and defenseless – exactly where Max wants him.
After Max’s near-fatal assault, Jack goes into survival mode: head down, time served, hope kept alive by Martin’s letters. Even those letters arrive poisoned – delivered by one of Martin’s colleagues with open disgust.
As release finally comes into view, two threats remain: Max, still circling, and Father Elliott, the Church’s messenger sent to interrogate Jack about what he plans to do once he’s free. Then, right before Jack can walk out, Max makes his final move through Rook. High on substances Max provides, Rook stabs Jack in the chest with a sharpened wooden cross.
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