Sister Helen Prejean agrees to act as spiritual advisor to Matthew Poncelet, who is sentenced to death by lethal injection for raping and killing a teenage couple in Louisiana. Over many visits, she tries to understand the truth of his crimes and find evidence of his innocence before his execution. On the day of his death, Poncelet asks the victims' parents for forgiveness and says he hopes his death will bring them peace. The film explores themes of capital punishment, revenge, suffering, forgiveness, love, repentance, confession, and freedom through the perspectives of the convict, Sister Helen, and the families.
2. BEHIND THE SCENES
A 1995 film directed by Tim
Robbins, based on an
autobiographical novel of
Sister Helen Prejean.
STARRING: Sean Penn
Susan Sarandon
Robert Prosky
Lois Smith
Jack Black
Celia Weston
4. THE PLOT
Louisiana. Matthew Poncelet has been in prison for six
years, waiting for his execution by lethal injection for
raping and killing a teenage couple.
Sister Helen decides to give him a chance, willing to find
out the truth before he will be killed.
After many unsuccessful efforts, made to prove his
“innocence”, his time has come. The convict asks her to
be his spiritual advisor through the day of execution,
and she agrees.
He asks the victims’ parents for forgiveness and tells
them he hopes his death will bring them peace.
5. THEMES
Capital punishment
Revenge
Suffering
Power of forgiveness
Love
Repentance
Confession and Freedom
