The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is a crime/drama film directed by Frank Darabont in 1994.The film follows the story of Andy Dufresne a falsely accused banker sentenced to two life imprisonments at Shawshank Prison,Ohio in 1947.Darabont has made the context 1947 specifically because of the widespread social and political discrimination to create a powerful backdrop for the film.The relationship between Andy and his black inmate Red is enhanced creating a poignant engaging story.

One of the most profound discoveries explored by Darabont in this film is that hope is crucial to an individual’s future and that it can originate from unexpected places. Through the character of Red, a black man incarcerated for forty years in Shawshank Prison, Darabont shows how hope is still possible. After his parole Red discovers a small tin box with money and a letter from Andy, his unlikely white friend in prison. In the letter Andy urges Red to travel to Mexico and experience real freedom, real hope and a future never imagined by Red. ‘Hope is a good thing and no good thing ever dies’ are the words from Andy in the letter.Darabont uses a wide range of techniques such as Symbolism which is used extensively in the film to accentuate the significance of hope for an individual. He also uses a medium shot with red placed in the foreground and a rockwall leading up to a tree in the background,to suggest future,hope and optimism for the protagonist.This idea is further reinforced at the end of the film when Red’s hat is blown off his head in the breeze,the ultimate symbolism of freedom.The contrast in Red’s former life and incarceration is now complete as he experiences freedom and hope,originating from an unexpected source… Andy.

Further Darabont uses the character Andy to show how adaptation is vital for survival.Before incarceration Andy was a Rockhound and a well respected Banker.Andy’s life before prison emphasises his character’s innocence,naivety and unpreparedness for the harsh prison life he was about to encounter.Andy’s first two years were the toughest,he discovers brutality and loneliness of being a white man declaring his innocence in a brutal and unforgiving enviroment.To highlight the lack of adaptation Darabont uses close up camera angles of his bruisings from brutal bashings.Here Andy was at his most vulnerable,it would appear he has no friends and no hope.The catalyst for Andy’s change is a chance encounter with a guard which leads to Andy producing advice and reciprocal benefits an example is when Andy helps the guard with finacial business,the guard then presents Andy and his inmates with a cold beer each.At this moment Andy discovers his outside skills may become useful here.From this example we learn vulnerability can become a catalyst for the most powerful discoveries.Andy has discovered at his lowest point that adaptation is vital for survival.

 

A similarity between The Motorcycle diaries and The Shawshank Redemption is that both composers explore the idea that often the most powerful self discoveries come from unexpected sources.In The Shawshank Redemption,Darabont shows a discovery of hope for a black man came from an unexpected source Andy, a white man,in a 1947 context.Similarly Che Guevara sets out to have a fun adventure,when he unexpectedly discovers the harsh division of the wealthy and poor,The discovery unexpectedly changes his political perspective,similarly Red unexpectedly finds hope.Both discoveries are powerful and unexpected.”Wandering around our America has changed me more than I thought. I am not me any more. At least I’m not the same me I was.” ~ Guevara one major difference between the two texts is the perspective which impacts on our discovery,While The Motorcycle Diaries is written in first person from Che’s adventures and experiences.On the other hand The Shawshank Redemption,even though we follow Andy as the protagonist we see it through Red’s eyes.By doing this Darabont manipulates us by showing Andy’s innocence,which further shows our sympathy for Andy is coloured,enabling us as the viewer to emphasise with Andy far more and enhances the idea that vulnerability can be a great catalyst for self discovery.