After being told that she would be played in the film by "a famous actress from Thelma & Louise (1991)", Sister Helen Prejean was introduced to Susan Sarandon and said "Thank God, she's Louise."
This is one of several movies where Susan Sarandon's character as a child is played by her daughter Eva Amurri.
The scene where Sister Helen was pulled over is based on an incident that happened to Helen Prejean during filming. She thought it was so funny that she asked to have it put into the film.
When writer and director Tim Robbins needed songs written for the film, he simply sent a cut of the film to several noted composers, among them Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle and asked for a song.
Tim Robbins: [family] Cast includes the director's common law wife Susan Sarandon, common law step-daughter Eva Amurri, father Gil Robbins (Bishop Norwich), mother Mary Robbins (aide to the governor), sister Adele Robbins (nurse), and son Jack Henry Robbins (opossum kid) and Miles Robbins (boy in church). His brother, David Robbins, composed the soundtrack.