Breakind Down ‘Walls’ in a Prison

Life within these walls is a struggle for survival and a battle to remain human.

Such is the view of prison life depicted in the Lifetime movie “Within These Walls,” which premieres tonight at 9.

The boundaries in question aren’t just prison walls, however. They’re also the fortifications around the characters’ hearts--built to protect them from a sometimes scarier place: the outside world.

Inspired by a true story, the movie--written by Robert J. Avreck and directed by Mike Robe--depicts Sister Pauline Quinn’s attempt to break through these walls with a program that teaches inmates to train dogs for the disabled.

As portrayed by Laura Dern, Sister Pauline is a woman of boundless energy, quiet determination and a gentle spirit.

While setting up her pilot program in a women’s prison, she encounters Joan Thomas (Ellen Burstyn), a loner whose dead eyes and cold, hard demeanor scare off even the more dangerous inmates.

Joan at first scoffs at the volunteer program. But Sister Pauline--whose own past is as haunted as many of the inmates’--senses a kindred spirit in Joan and gradually coaxes her into the group.

Contact with the playful, unconditionally loving dogs--coupled with the responsibility of caring for and training the animals--enables Joan and fellow inmates Eliza (Lucinda Davis) and Leda (Maria Herrera) to rediscover parts of themselves that they’d discarded along life’s hard road.

As Joan reconnects with her emotions, tears spring to Burstyn’s eyes, and a look of startled wonder spreads across her face. She touches her cheeks, amazed to find them wet. Then she looks in a mirror, just to be sure. By that point, she’s not the only one who’s crying.

Surf Report

SERIES

“My Country, My Kitchen” visits the culinary customs of Greece, India, Morocco and South America by traveling with famous American chefs as they return to their native lands and roots (9 p.m. Food).

With amateur-built contenders facing an army of house robots, “Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors” debuts tonight with host Mick Foley from the World Wrestling Federation (8 p.m. TNN).

SPECIALS

Two-hour documentary “Taxi Dreams” follows five New York cab drivers from taxi academy through the chaos of rush hour traffic and the tough obstacles faced by these recent immigrants. Narrated by “Taxi” star Judd Hirsch (9 p.m. PBS).

Celebrities and musical guests Britney Spears, Freddie Prinze Jr., Destiny’s Child, Reese Witherspoon and ‘N Sync are among the dozens of performers set to appear at “The Teen Choice Awards 2001” (8 p.m. Fox).