dead man walking be a film not about the death penalty and but about the people involve in a death penalty case the killer and the family whose kid be kill and the nun who become his spiritual advisor and and what happen . it tell the story with little fanfare but a lot of compassion and sensitivity . i have it on dvd and and every time i watch it ( not often and it never an easy film to watch ) i be more impressed by what tim robbins and the entire cast do here . so reveal that it could be a documentary and so compelling you can not take your eye away and so subtle and yet so powerful . dead man walking be nothing short of a masterpiece . it doesn not matter whether youre for or against the death penalty ( or even have no opinion ) and this movie will have you think about the issue for sure . it take a courageous screenwriter and director to look this material in the face without flinch even once and and everyone involve in the film pull it off there isn not a single scene that ring false . a masterful film and but do not expect light view . to some and the final scene could be more graphic than anything imaginable and even though no blood or violence be show . you get draw into this film and become a participant and and there a character for just about everyone to identify with . positive .