Gary Gilmore was convicted on two counts of murder and was set to be executed by the state of Utah in 1977. It was to be the first execution of a prisoner in America in 10 years. Gilmore's brother Mikal traveled across the country days before the execution date to speak with his brother as well as to convince Gary to sign papers that would stay the execution. Mikal was prepared to meet with the brother he had not seen in years, but was not equipped to handle the media coverage that his brother's capital punishment would receive and the circus of activity he would encounter upon meeting Gary in the Draper Correctional Facility.

Elias Koteas plays Gary Gilmore and Giovanni Ribisi plays Mikal in this moving account of two brothers attempting to connect during the direst circumstances. This HBO feature film is based upon Mikal Gilmore's own autobiographical book about this turbulent time. Agnieska Holland (EUROPA EUROPA) directs with strong emotional intensity.