The Shawshank Redemption

GANGSTER

1 GODFATHER, THE (1972)

2 GOODFELLAS (1990)

3 GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)

4 WHITE HEAT (1949)

5 BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)

6 SCARFACE: THE SHAME OF A NATION (1932)

7 PULP FICTION (1994)

8 PUBLIC ENEMY, THE (1931)

9 LITTLE CAESAR (1931)

10 SCARFACE (1983)

****SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION – KSOW’S FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME****

A Crime film, in the most general sense, is a film that involves various aspects crime and the criminal justice system. Stylistically, it can fall under many different genres, most commonly drama film, thriller film, mystery film, action film and film noir. Films focused on the Mafia are a typical example of crime films.

Assignment #1 – Shawshank Redemption Themes

Choose either Red or Andy and answer the following:

1. Describe one thing he learns and say why this important.

While in prison, Andy learns he must “get busy living or get busy dying”. He therefore got busy in making life meaningful in every possible way inside the prison in order to keep up his hope, while patiently digging his way to get out of the place.

1. Describe a problem he has and explain how he tried to overcome it.

At first, Andy’s most acute problem was with “the sisters” - Shawshank's resident rape gang. He overcame it by legally advising Hadley, the captain of the prison guards. After “the sisters” beat up Andy badly, sending him to the infirmary, the captain and another guard beat up “the sisters” really hard, disabling their leader Bogs for life. Andy kept providing legal advice to the guards and to the warden, thus receiving their protection, as well as benefits for all the inmates.

1. Describe the relationship he had with the other and explain why it was important.

Their relationship started as mutual respect, then it developed into a strong friendship, which is very important especially in prison because it keeps the inmates sane and gives them hope in difficult situations.

Choose a character from the list below and do the activities that follow:

Brooks         Warden Norton         Byron Hadley                 Tommy

1. Describe their role in the film: who were they? what did they do? what happened to them?

Brooks was serving a long sentence in Shawshank Prison. Being an educated inmate, he early on became the librarian of the prison. The State paroled Brooks after having served for 50 years. When he found out that he was going to be released, he tried to murder another inmate, hoping this would help him remain in prison. Andy persuaded Brooks to stop. Discussing Brooks’ momentary lapse of reason, Red diagnoses Brooks right, calling him “institutionalized” and afraid of the life out of prison. When Brooks is released, he sets free the crow he had been taking care of since it was a chick.

Brooks is indeed overwhelmed by the life out of prison and he is extremely unhappy about it. Having lost hope, he hung himself, confirming Red’s words. Inmates serving a very long sentence at first hate the walls, then they get used to them, and in the end, they become dependent on them. By paroling Brooks after 50 years, the State has sentenced him a second time: a death sentence.

1. Describe their relationship with Andy and explain the effect of the relationship.

Long before Brooks was paroled, Andy befriended him. Brooks’ predicament made Andy even more determined to keep his mind busy, to persist and persevere, while clinging on to hope.

1. What lesson(s) are we to learn from what happens to the character.

We learn from Brooks what it means to become institutionalized. He had been carrying the prison around inside his head, which ended up being his defeat.

Describe the following scenes and explain why the scene is important to the film:

1. the opening scene

The opening scene shows Andy sitting in his car in front of a house, taking a gun and a bottle of whisky out of the glove compartment. This leads us to believe the prosecutor in the following scene – the trial. Apparently, Andy had gotten drunk, lost it and shot his wife and her lover. It makes it difficult to believe in his innocence, until Tommy tells the story of the real killer, whom he had met in another prison.