It was a long time ago that I got to see the film so the recollection is a bit patchy and hazy. What you would admire of the film is Sean Penn's performance more than Susan Sarandon who happened to bag an Oscar for her work in the film. And the soundtrack ofcourse.
I remember the first time watching it at a friend's place in Lahore. Had been listening to the eclectic lo-fi soundtrack of the film plus the score and was really into it those days. So watching the opening of the film with a montage of the Susan Sarandon character leaving for this new place or arriving at the aforementioned new place? Shot of the orange setting sun running through tree branches interspersed with images of a young Susan Sarandon in her wedding dress and ofcourse Nusrat and Eddie Vedder's hymn, The Face of Love. I was moved by these opening images and I am not sure but I'd like to think it was a sweet tinged melancholic evening in October of 1996. The film was about capital punishment, its bearing on the whole town and I wouldn't want to dwell on the heavy subject here for it certainly forms the crux of the film, its the sheer visceral mood of the film that lingers on. You want a definition of the word haunting, see this film. Sean Penn's performance, especially during his character's execution is electrifying. The film competently raises these issues but like I said, no heavy stuff here. Just the blend of mood,acting and music brings out a sombre meditation. And its somber autumn air that carries the film in our heads through out the years.
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