Hope and Incarceration: The Shawshank Redemption

The story of Andy Dufresne transcends the typical movie from the prison genre. The film holds nothing back in the harsh portrayal of prison life for Andy, his pal Red, and the rest of their companions. The Shawshank Redemption humanizes those behind bars, displaying emotions and relationships of characters who are treated as inferior by the prison staff. The movie’s message of hope and making the best of every situation is powerful and well-delivered. You can’t help but be inspired by Andy Dufresne’s willpower and determination when the odds are stacked against him in the corrupt prison system. One of cinema’s most famous lines: “Get busy living, or get busy dying” encapsulates the  resilient attitude that drives Andy Dufresne, in an environment designed to make him give up and resign to his fate . This movie contains much mature content, but I think it is essential to see for this time around the age of 17 because its message of hope and determination is so important. The Shawshank Redemption is a must-watch, but only in the right mindset, one must be prepared for the emotional gravity of the film before embarking on the journey as a viewer. Along with most other critics, I can’t find anything wrong with this movie and rate it a perfect 12/12.