1st reading log, Shaw shank Redemption

Annabel Carter

Shawshank redemption: 

(Film)

When does the consequences of fighting for your own justice suppress the feeling of redemption? 

“The Shawshank Redemption” written and directed by Frank Darabont takes on the 1994 American drama film based on the 1982 novel written by Stephen King called “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”.

The film follows the life of banker Andy Dufresne wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and former lover, sentencing him to two life sentences within Shawshank State Penitentiary Prison. The film portrays the theme of justice by Andy’s fight in hopes to one day walk as a free man. Within the walls of his confinement he befriends a fellow prisoner by the name of Ellis Redding commonly known throughout the film as “Red” who is completing his sentence for smuggling drugs into prison. The film spans just short of 20 years showing the growing partnership of Andy and Red which portrays their life within the prison cells, giving insights into their personal experiences adjusting as best they can behind bars. Throughout the film the recurring theme of social Justice keeps Andy and Red fighting for their rights in hopes of one day being able to walk free of conviction. In order to reach this point Andy must navigate his way through sexual abuse, beatings and starvation to find his prupose, his purpose fueled by justice. Andy uses his past powers and knowledge of money laundering and illegal financial abilities to gain certain privileges for himself and other inmates including Red in order to successfully survive within the State Prison. Although all this mental and physical abuse has a large impact on his mentality. 

As the viewer you can see the impact this prison has on his mind, including his decision making a radical actions to be a free man. Us as the audience ultimately views these acts in favor of the inhumane actions placed upon the prisoners and Andy himself, this is nothing less than an act of abuse in power to convey how authority can dictate a person’s actions and ultimately end result in a person’s life. “Justice delayed is justice denied”, this quote is recurring throughout the film by Andy. 

A powerful scene in the film is where Andy’s innocence is shown and the truth gets out, this should have been the catalyst of the movie, the turning point where Aandy walks free of conviction. The justice and moral ethics should have come together to grant Andy his freedom and the justice he deserved. But instead the legal professionals involved in Shawshank Prison would not comprehend the new evidence in favor of him and instead of doing their legal duty they chose to silence the new evidence found to keep Andy’s criminal transaction intact.  Throughout the film Andy and Reds reaction to the principles of injusticement and abuse in power provides there catalyst on the driving force in becoming free men clearing their name. By the film being at a first person point of view it makes it more realistic to an outside audience experiencing the physical abuse and psychological torture these men went through. Director Frank Darabont uses a technique throughout the movie to relate the viewer to the theme of the film in the form of voice overs which is portrayed through Reds voice. The fellow inmate serves as the narrator within the movie, the emotional weight Red Carries through prison is shown in his own perspective which speaks directly towards the viewer. The first sentence of the film through the narrators eyes includes the word “You” bringing the audience into the film within the beginning. Reds voice is portrayed as eloquent and poetically spoken nothing like convict talk you would most likely find. His voice shows humorous sides almost covering the emotion distress he is experiencing, Red controls the overall tone of the film keeping it light hearted when possible while shifting to tension when necessary. The film also includes relatable experiences of life making them appear as human as possible whom indeed is following a heart and soul in the quest for Justice. Although the theme of social justice comes across to an outside viewer as very simple it is actually quite complex when Andy and Reds road to redemption is seized by optimism and the reality of spending the rest of his life behind bars. This particular motivation is stemmed from Andy and Reds past disappointment in rejection of the State of near future parole which happened in more than one instance within the film. Shawshank Redemption shows how one man’s fight for justice becomes another man’s fight for freedom.

This text made me reflect on the criminal justice systems way of sentencing and if justice really is served due to this. Watching the characters navigate their way through the prison makes me realise how lucky I am to not be in a similar situation. I cannot comprehend the abuse Andy, Red and the other prisoners must have gone through in their time. I am a person of white descendants and a female which may come to my advantage if I were to ever see myself in a court one day this is why I find it so hard to comprehend the weight some criminals must carry due to their ethnic groups or religion which may come as a disadvantage in a sentencing. I have had no personal experience with prisons but I do have relatives that have had to spend time because of decisions they have made in the past. This had a profound impact on myself and the others around me when they were not here to support us in times of need. Personally I believe this film portrays justice and criminal justice accurately to what extent people will go to get what they ultimately deserve. “A life with no Justice is a life not well served.”

In a real world context we would see this type of behaviour being portrayed very frequently behind government bars. A prison is hidden behind many locked doors and very rarely do we as the public see what is going on within them. The justice fought for through the movie by the prisoners is what many people are having to go through on a daily basis. Some may be completely innocent and be placed on death row or life sentences just like Andy and are having to fight for their own life in order to see their families again. In 1939 Joe Arridy was sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a 15 year old girl in Colorado. 72 year after he was put to death Joe was found to be completely innocent and has no actual evidence leading him to the murder. This is an extreme case of sentencing an innocent which resulted in the death of Joe Arridy. This true story is similar to Andy’s in Shawshank Redeption as they both were innocent and were fighting for their right to be free.