Modern Movie production is predominantly oriented on Movies of mass consumption, so called light Movies about everyday life, about love and friendship. Those Movies, even gaining the popularity worldwide do not cover all expects of our life, depicting only a well known bright side of modern America. On the oth er hand, the theme of Movies that deal with psychological experiences, misfortunes and inner struggle of a definite individual has not become widely spread. But the demand on these Movies exists and the release Sheepshank redemption had proved it quite well. This Movie arose interest as it covers some of the hidden aspects of our modern life, the opposite side of the system and the dark side of justice that exists in our country. The power of personality, the power of human wil l and optimism are shown in this Movie as factors that helped a person to stay human in the most inhuman surrounding that can ever exist- in prison. The life of correctional institutions is often a taboo theme for most of Movie producers, but Shawshank redemption director tried to break this stereotype and describe the conditions of confinement from the point of view of the person who had experienced them on his own.
The story is about a successful young banker whose life had changed radically once and forever, as he got accused in the double murder of his cheating wife and her lover. Even though the Movie doesnt give a straight answer on the question whether he murdered them or not, we understand from the events described that probably he had no relation to the murder. He got life sentence and had to spend the rest of his life in prison. Different Movie reviewers agree with the success of the Movie and with its powerful and deep message, but still some of them have different opinions about the plot and its contains. For example Leonard Schwarz writes in his review:
So does the bright young banker contac t his lawyer? Not a chance. That would put an end to his victimization and ruin The Shawshank Redemptions completely implausible plot and theme. Instead, like the fool he isnt, the banker appeals to the wardens non-existent sense of fair play and ends up in solitary confinement--an experience that does nothing to crush his indomitable spirit.(Schwarz, L. Shawshank redemption)
Actually this is the first point that makes the Movie look strange: the banker, especially a successful one has to know all tips of judicial system and especially has to know his very rights especially if he appears to be in such kind of a trouble. Besides, as we see then in the Movie, he was quite a firm personality with a sense of dignity and will power, so had to know how to act in that kind of situation.
Despite the difficulties that every imprisoned faces, despite the unlimited power of prison administration which is corrupted and which makes business inside the prison walls, Andy Dufresne, former successful banker gets used to the conditions and moreover he stands and remains to be a person: But Andy does not cry, and Red loses the cigarettes he wagered. Andy turns out to be a surprise to everyone in Shawshank, because within him is such a powerful reservoir of determination and strength that nothing seems to break him. (Ebert,R. Shawshank redemption)
Moreover he appears to be able to save human and healthy relations with others even makes a friend with old imprisoned Red Redding, an implacable man for prisoners who could find anything they wanted.
Red Redding is shown as lifer who had integrated into prison s ystem and who probably would not be able to survive outside in everyday life as prison had had made a great impact on his personality. He dreams about being rehabilitated but in fact he doesnt know what we will do outside of Shawshank. He thinks about another life who committed suicide after being paroled as he could find a place in free world.
After a while Red and Andy become friends, this event was one of the key moments in Andys life as he found a real support. Red lets to know that: Andy will not kiss butt. He will not back down. But he is not violent, just formidably sure of himself. (Ebert,R. Shawshank redemption)
After a while prison administration gets an interest in imprisoned banker who knew accounting and could do all calculations for prison administration who was involved into illegal business. As they use Andys service his respect grows and in fact soon Andy also makes a retirement plans for prison administration. The images of prison and the descr iption of characters will definitely make the viewer to agree that its director had made a wonderful job. Music used in the Movie and images of prison colored in gray and in shadows help to imagine the real atmosphere of confinement and the experience of those imprisoned. Besides, the use of music made more colorful the life of characters, their emotions and feelings which could not be explained by the use of common visual effects. Even though those critics as Leonard Schwarz say that this Movie is worth watching only:
Unless you feel compelled to discover how imprisoning 140 minutes of harsh brutality and simple-minded, self-congratulat ory humanism can be, spare yourself from this redemption (Schwarz, L. Shawshank redemption) The use of two quite different figures: an eager stoic young man and an old-lifer in the Movie adds more colors and makes it multisided as Roger Ebert writes in his review: Andy, as played by Robbins, keeps his thoughts to himself. Red, as Freeman plays him, is therefore a crucial element in the story: His close observation of this man, down through the years, provides the way we monitor changes and track the measure of his influence on those around him. And all the time there is something else happening, hidden and secret, which is revealed only at the end.(Ebert,R. Shawshank redemption)
The humanism and triumph of human will described in Shawshank redemption make this Movie to be worth watching as it shows that humanism and virtues exist in any environment even in the most inhuman and unbearable.
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Author:: Aaron Schwartz
Keywords:: Shawshank redemption
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