Shiva Garshasbi

Shawshank Redemption

This week, I watched the movie Shawshank Redmption, based off of the story written by Stephen King, directed by Frank Darabont. This movie has easily made it into my top ten movie list. This movie was released back in 1994, which would be when I was only 3 years old. Tim Robbin plays the lead role as Andy, who has been convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to 2 lifetime sentences to be served at Shawshank Penitentiary.

Upon arrival with several other new inmates, Andy meets the warden of the prison who is played by Bob Gunton. He seems to be a God-fearing man, when he states his belief in the Bible and discipline as a way to keep the inmates in order. As the movie progresses you see the warden’s character unfold to reveal a very corrupt man. To me he seems more like a false prophet. He claims to be a man who goes to church, and has a model family, when actually he is a man who uses Andy’s education and knowledge to embezzle money from the prison into a private account.

While serving his time, Andy befriends several prisoners as well as guards and officials. One man, who becomes Andy’s best friend and confidant, is Red, who is played by one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman. While watching this movie, I truly believed that he didn’t commit the crime he was serving time for. Andy was a very well educated man, and he wanted to share his knowledge with his new friends. His determination brought about a new library for the prison, and a way for the inmates to get a proper education and receive their General Education Diplomas. I had really hoped for a happy ending for Andy. And I thought that would’ve happened when a new member joined his group of friends. This man claimed that he knew the man who commited the murder Andy was falsely accused of. When his untimely end came, I was shocked, especially because I didn’t think the warden was capable of murder at this point.

This movie’s title has the word “redemption” in it. Originally, one would suspect that Andy is the one who finds redemption, when actually he is the one who brings it around. Red is actually the man who receives redemption, even though Andy successfully escapes the prison. In the middle of the movie, Red goes in for a review for release, and at that point he knew he just wanted to get out. He knew he wasn’t ready, but he was willing to lie to get what he wanted. By the end of the movie, Andy’s impact on him and the prison brings about Red’s true revelation of himself, and so truly wants to redeem himself for what he has done.