根據真人真事(歡鏡聽、張春雷等)改編。作(zuò)為(wèi)描寫中(zhōng)國(guó)大陸看守所裏在押犯的故事，電(diàn)影以在押犯人黃敬廷被安(ān)排為(wèi)臨刑前的死刑犯代寫遺書的情節為(wèi)主線(xiàn)，反映鐵窗内衆囚犯不同人物(wù)、不同心理(lǐ)、不同人生觀的沖突，打破了中(zhōng)國(guó)大陸關于此題材的諸多(duō)禁忌。通過于現關有(yǒu)大批在押犯的監獄實地拍攝的生活體(tǐ)驗和積累，影片冷靜真實地再現了囚犯鐵窗生涯的衆生百态，折射出對生與死、罪與罰、自由和囚禁的的思考。

　　A small-time crook in China's maximum security prison is assigned the dubious task of recording the last wishes of the death row inmates scheduled for execution. Surrounded by men who are immersed in desperation, his close encounters with the condemned criminals shows him the darkest side of humanity. But he finds romance with the beautiful female prison radio station announcer, despite the watchful eyes of the wardens and the threat of execution hanging over her.