Filmanalyse af 'Dead Man Walking'

Starring: Sean Penn and Susan SarandonLength:2 hours and 10 minutes

Summery of the movie:

“Dead Man Walking” was produced in 1995 and is based on a non-fiction book, with the same name, written by Helen Prejean. Directed by Tim Robbins and starred in the film is Sean Penn, who acts like an inmate on death row, named Matthew Poncelet. The other co-starred main character is Susan Sarandon, who plays the role as a nun, named Helen Prejean.

The movies’ name simply explains what the story is about and how Matthew handles it. He get’s help from Helen, because he contacted her through mail, where he asks her to visit him and help him with his final appeal. Helen empathizes with him and therefore agrees on meeting him. Afterwards they establish an emotional relationship upon their experiences together, and Matthew’s dark secret.

Matthew Poncelet is an inmate on death row, and has been for 6 years. He’s intelligent, but the way he lived- and the friends that he had before made him do something terribly stupid. But even after all that has happened, he still has a mother and a family that loves him, unconditionally.

Helen Prejean is a nun, working in a voluntary home called “Hope”. She has a big heart and wants to follow Jesus example of humanism, but her parents are suspicious of people taking advantage of that. But still, she’s happily spending her spare time taking care of children and being a good example for them. Therefore, Helen agrees on working with Matthew and try to make his life a little better. For example, she provides him with a lawyer called “Hilton Barber” who has a convincing voice and agrees on working on his case. Afterwards, Helen also agrees on being Matthew’s spiritual adviser, so she can be with Matthew to the very end. Helen also tries to get the prison to play a hymn, but without luck, because of prison-regulations.