The Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont - Film Review

Adapted from the Stephen King novel, The Shawshank Redemption is the story of a man who is wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. The film continues to follow banker Andy Dufresne as he then spends the next 20 years in jail.  The majority of time is spent with Andy bonding with fellow prisoners. In particular Red played by Morgan Freeman, who also serves as narrator. Although Andy appears to be the protagonist of the film, most of the action is presented from Reds perspective. This is also true for the narration, which is done in a style of existential projection.

Continually through the film we see and experience the lives of inmates. We are shown how many of them have become accustomed to the climate of prison. And even on occasions where prisoners are able to leave, they often show disdain to life on the outside. This often comes from a lack of understanding of the outside world, with many of them having spent decades imprisoned.

The film also focuses on the prison service staff. Including the undetected abuse and corruption. A continual plot element throughout the film is the application for parole of the character Red. The first few times when he applies for parole he appears optimistic, freely discussing how he feels that he is changed. However to no avail he is consistently refused. It is only on his third time when he seems to have completely given up on the application service that he is approved. Giving the audience the impression that prison isn't supposed to change someone into a better person, it is there to break down the human spirit.

But the film does not conclude our characters to this fate. Andy is able to escape by means of a tunnel, where as Red is released. With the film ending with a shot of the two reuniting as free men.