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A profound and intense experience. A gripping drama about the need for truth, the difficulty of accepting the truth and the courage to look death in the eye with peace of mind. Brilliantly written, brilliantly directed and phenomenally acted by the lead duo. Susan Sarandon deserved the Oscar, Sean Penn only got a nomination, but you will never forget his character of a death-row inmate. It also got nominations for best film and direction. I must not forget the great title track by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh. I recommend it to all supporters of the death penalty, maybe they’ll change their views... (02.06.2002)

A high-quality psychological drama, and one of the crucial contributions to the discussion about the death penalty. It is valuable in that it does not take sides and does not instructively judge. The main protagonist, a nun, is gifted with heightened sensitivity and empathy, and she experiences both the fear and the accused's attitudes, as well as the pain and understandable hatred of the victims' parents. The condemned is definitely not an innocent victim of the system, but a criminal with whom it is visibly difficult to sympathize. The film gradually touches upon all the fundamental problems associated with the phenomenon of the death penalty. Just as an example, the overwhelming majority of those condemned and executed fall into the category of the poorest, who could not afford to hire expensive lawyers and private investigators capable of effectively challenging any accusation. It is also a fact that executions are carried out at a time when there is political demand for them, to demonstrate the politician's determination to combat crime. The performances of Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon dominate the film. Both belong to the best of what current American cinema has to offer, and they give their characters maximum credibility. Overall impression: 90%. (22.10.2013)

There’s an excessive emphasis placed on the spiritual subtext, which is as strong as the concrete walls around the main protagonist. Unfortunately, this slightly detracts from the apt and raw narrative value, which has a lot to offer. The story about the condemned brutal Brahman is presented in an unusually minimalist way, masterfully acted by both Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. The runtime may seem like a deadly factor in the midst of all those powerful words, but it is not. Tim Robbins has a skilled hand and proves himself not only as a quality actor this time. The most interesting part of the film are some highly emotional scenes that are incredibly “progressive” and avoid any heartwrenching clichés. Definitely an unconventional and in its own way very innovative prison drama. (17.07.2007)