根據真人真事(歡鏡聽(tīng)、張春雷等)改編。作爲描寫中(zhōng)國大(dà)陸看守所裏在押犯的故事，電影以在押犯人黃敬廷被安排爲臨刑前的死刑犯代寫遺書(shū)的情節爲主線，反映鐵窗内衆囚犯不同人物(wù)、不同心理、不同人生(shēng)觀的沖突，打破了中(zhōng)國大(dà)陸關于此題材的諸多禁忌。通過于現關有大(dà)批在押犯的監獄實地拍攝的生(shēng)活體(tǐ)驗和積累，影片冷靜真實地再現了囚犯鐵窗生(shēng)涯的衆生(shēng)百态，折射出對生(shēng)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.