Shawshank deconstruction for brooks parole sequence

Brooks parole sequence is particularly evocative and compelling. A variety of techniques is used to shape this particularly emotive and tragic scene. These techniques include the use of camera shots, background music, voice over, lighting and dialogue.

Our first impression of “Brooks parole” sequence is shaped through the use of variety of camera shots. The use of long panning camera shots of Brooks standing still, alone outside Shawshank’s gates highlights how frail, small and insignificant he is in the outside world. These camera shots emphasise and gives us the sense of Brooks loss, being alone frightened, scared and anxious. This is further highlighted by the close up camera shots of Brooks in the bus after being released, gripping onto the handle rails. In this camera shot the other passengers on the bus are blurred putting our focus and attention on Brooks, leaving the audience with a great sense of absolute despair, anxiety and loss. The use of this camera technique gives us our last impression of the broken man Brooks had become after leaving Shawshank. The use of these powerful camera techniques used by the director emphasises Brooks feeling of being alone, frightened and anxious. Highlighting further, the impact Shawshank has on the individual.

The use of background music highlights further Brooks loneliness and despair. The background music is sad, somber and builds in intensity throughout this sequence. The music creates a mood, an atmosphere of loss, shock as we sense Brooks defeat and horror. There is an irony in the fact that Brooks is physically free but emotionally trapped and imprisoned by his sense of solitude and isolation in the outside world, where he should be feeling free. The use of background music leaves us with a strong impression that Brooks freedom will have a tragic end due to him ...

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In this emotion charged sequence, it is Brooks voice that we hear speaking directly to us, about his thoughts and feelings about his ‘release’ from Shawshank. This voice over technique emphasizes Brooks strong sense of not belonging on the outside world. The language used in this voice over is very moving as we feel Brooks pain and desperation to be back in Shawshank.

“ Send me home, I’m tired of being afraid all the time.”

The use of voice over tragically emphasizes just how much Shawshank can take from an individual. Inside Shawshank Brooks had, ‘friends,’ ‘family’ and ‘position’ which made him feel important. This powerful technique highlights that, Shawshank can tragically strip away a man’s sense of self. A man becomes dependent on the walls of the institution. “First you hate them, then you start to get used to them and pretty soon you start depending on them.” Brooks believed that outside of Shawshank he was nothing.

This sequence is also shaped through the use of a variety of lighting, which emphasises Brooks feelings of depression and worthlessness and that he can’t see himself escaping this dark, unforgiving place. These characteristics are portrayed through the use of dull, dim, dark and shadowy lighting. Ironically, the confinement of Shawshank offered Brooks a security that being on the ‘outside’ could not, leaving us to believe that Brooks had become institutionalised.

Dialogue is another strong technique used by the director to show a startling contrast in the language used by the guards who farewell Brooks. They shake his hand and wish him ‘good luck’. Their language and their treatment of Brooks contrasts markedly to what we have seen and heard within Shawshank. The cruelty, brutality and taunting are gone. The words and gestures used by the guards highlights the respect they have for Brooks and for us makes his leaving a lot more touching.

This evocative and compelling parole sequence is shaped through the use of many techniques, which leads us towards the tragic ending of Brooks at the end of this sequence.

By : Nawshin Nur