A death row inmate turns for spiritual guidance to a local nun in the days leading up to his scheduled execution for the murders of a young couple.
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Susan Sarandon
Sister Helen Prejean
Sean Penn
Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky
Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry
Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey
Clyde Percy
Celia Weston
Mary Beth Percy
Lois Smith
Helen's Mother
Scott Wilson
Chaplain Farley
Roberta Maxwell
Lucille Poncelet
Margo Martindale
Sister Colleen
Director
Tim Robbins
Status
Released
Original Language
EN
Budget
$11,000,000
Revenue
$39,363,635
Production
Havoc, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films, PolyGram Video, Gramercy Pictures
Peter McGinn
September 16, 2020
This is a terrific movie, with dramatic power and a balanced look at the issue of capital punishment. It is based on a true story written and lived by a nun, Sister Helen Prejean though, as usually happens, the story is modified to fit the needs of a dramatic movie. For example, the two inmates she provided spiritual advice to are merged into one for this film. As a side note, Sister Prejean has a...
Filipe Manuel Neto
March 13, 2023
**A very human film that is solidly based on the performance of the two main actors and on the discussion around the death penalty.** There are certain films that are made to play with our feelings and with what we consider to be divisive themes. Films about the death penalty almost always do so in one way or another: the topic itself is highly controversial, and almost everyone has an opinion ...
CinemaSerf
May 25, 2025
Susan Sarandon is on super form here as the conflicted nun who is tasked with offering some spiritual support to a man (Sean Penn) on death row convicted of the most brutal rape and murder of a young woman and the killing of her boyfriend. With him protesting his innocence and appeals flying about as the clock ticks down, “Sister Helen” has to reconcile her relationship with the accused with her e...
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