Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont, who successfully interpreted the film, which was taken from the book 'Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption' written by Stephen King in the early 1980's

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Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont, who successfully interpreted the film, which was taken from the book 'Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption' written by Stephen King in the early 1980's. Shawshank Redemption was released in 1994 and was set in Mansfield, Ohio correctional institution; a large almost medieval type of building which helps create the atmosphere of the film.

The film fits under many different themes: imprisonment, liberation, redemption, hope, survival and patience. But is apart of the drama genre, it is also in the sub-genres of prison drama and character study.

Throughout Shawshank Redemption Darabont uses imagery to express his ideas.

Darabont shows the audience prison life from Andy's point of view, for Darabont to do this he has to develop Andy's character so that the audiences' perception of him is that he is innocent. The audience doesn't always perceive Andy as innocent but due to the audience seeing prison life from his point of view they sympathise with him, this quickly makes them think Andy is innocent. We see imprisonment through a different perspective to other prison dramas; this is done by Darabont letting the audience see prison life from the Prisoners point of view instead of the prison officers.

Darabont used different types of media throughout the film to show the audience different aspects of the prison life:

* Voice over- Darabont uses a narrator to tell the story he uses one of the main characters to do this. (Red)

* Camera angles- Darabont uses a variety of camera angles

* Lighting- Darabont uses the lighting to create atmosphere in scenes. He also uses pathetic fallacy.

* Sound effects

"Fear can hold you a prisoner. Hope can set you free" throughout the film Darabont presents this in numerous ways, using the wide range of media available to help him express his ideas to the audience.

Darabont uses camera angles alot during the introduction to Shawshank scene, the use of camera angles gives the audience the image of imprisonment. The scene starts with a dramatic crane shot that shows us the prison from a birds eye view, the sweeping views establish and emphasise the prisons size. Creating the feeling of this being a whole new world. As the inmates begin running we notice just how insignificant they are; they are like small insects compared to the sheer size of Shawshank. In this scene the prisoners are just one of many and are seen as nothing. This quickly changes during the film, soon the audience are on the prisoners' side.

After the view of the prison the camera angle changes. We see Andy encased in a van this is a very claustrophobic shot compared to the vast amount of space, which had just been shown. The camera is showing us what he is seeing; this is a great way of putting the audience in Andy's shoes and drawing them on to his side. As the van pulls up to the prison gates the camera is focused on the window where we can see the gates opening; representing the start of the film and a new life for the prisoners.
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The journey to Shawshank in the introduction scene was fast almost too speeded up, but once the van enters the prison suddenly the speed rapidly slows down. Darabont did this for a reason; it's a very effective way of showing the long stretch of time, which awaits Andy in the prison. Also it could represent the image of how compared to time outside every minute in Shawshank passes like an hour.

Another piece of technology that Darabont uses to his advantage is lighting and use of shadows. The first significant use of light also links in with ...

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