The condemned prisoner is on the way to execution.

This film is adapted from the true story of Sister Helen Prejean. She began corresponding with death-row inmate Matthew Poncelet at his request, and later visited him in prison, gradually becoming a spiritual confidant for Matthew. She also uncovered the unusual truth behind Matthew's murder of a young couple. Facing the anger of the villagers and the grief of the victims' parents, Helen summoned the courage to ask for their forgiveness and mercy for Matthew's sins. Matthew, who had refused to repent until then, finally broke through his mental barriers and sincerely confessed before his execution, finding peace as he walked towards death. Director Tim Robbins used a profound yet fluid approach to depict the mental state of a criminal's soul, and also showed the noble integrity of a clergy member. Through the superb and nuanced performances of Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, this serious subject matter film radiates a moving power.