Something of this kind is made once in a lifetime. A film that represents hope as an emotion in the best way possible. A 1994 movie that remains real and relatable even in 2025 and will be forever. The Shawshank Redemption is not just about an innocent banker making his way out of a prison filled with monsters yet humans at every step. It is about emotions and understanding that help you cope through all of it.
The Shawshank Redemption is labelled as a thriller or crime movie by Google, but I believe it is educational in every sense. You could never imagine how a man accused of murdering his wife could stay that calm and silent in a place like prison. He was certain about the choices he made and the steps he took. No one could ever question Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins. The man turned prison into his miniature bank.
Why I call The Shawshank Redemption an educational movie instead of a thriller is because you might guess his moves, even know what he could do next in order to escape, but what you could not guess was how he used his knowledge in everything he did.
The whole film showed me how smart a banker could be and how evil a warden could become. Andy was truly innocent, unlike many others in prison. He never killed his wife and her lover. The real killer was in another jail for a different crime. The young boy Andy taught knew about the real murderer and wanted to help him. But unfortunately, the people in high positions couldn’t bear the burden of saving the man who was handling their finances. That young boy was brutally murdered in that hell.
The Shawshank Redemption has a simple yet mind-boggling story. It’s called Shawshank Redemption because Shawshank is the name of the prison, and redemption means to be saved from evil. Andy saved himself from that hellish prison. It took him more than 20 years, but he did it. And what helped him was his knowledge. All his financial literacy paid off. He created a fake identity, Randall Stevens, and helped Warden Norton, played by Bob Gunton, save tons in taxes, only to later take it all and escape to Zihuatanejo.
There’s a lot to take from this film. Hope is just a step. There’s a whole roof waiting for you. Losing hope is easier. Holding onto it is not. Andy did the right thing. He adapted to prison life and made friends like Red, played by Morgan Freeman, who is also the narrator in the film. Andy spent 20 years there as punishment for not treating his wife right. When he understood what wrong he had done, nothing could keep him in that place any longer. He dug a hole with a mini rock hammer. It took him 20 years, but it felt like he never regretted a thing. I still don’t understand what the calmness on his face represents. Perhaps it means that life goes on.
I would rate it a solid 9 out of 10. IMDb gives it a 9.3 out of 10, rated by over 3,045,000 people. It is an outstanding film for sure. It made me smile, cry, feel happy from within, and angry too. Not many films can do that. Maybe not a cerebral movie, but definitely one you would want to watch again sometime. A peaceful yet powerful film, The Shawshank Redemption is unforgettable. You can watch it on amazon prime video.
Leave a Reply