November 9, 1999
Have you ever seen the movie "The Shawshank Redemption"? The answer is probably yes. This movie was shown in 1994, and it was nominated the seven Academy awards. This original story was written by Stephen King, who is a very famous author, and whose other novels were also made into movies. "The Shawshank Redemption" is a classic story of heroism. The scene of this story takes place mainly in the Shawshank Prison in Maine from 1940 - 1970, in which many types of criminals are locked up, and the story is about the heroism which is shown by the main character. It is a very impressive and profound movie.
The first impressive and profound point is the main character's personality. Andy Dufresne, who is the hero of this story, had been an able banker, but he was put into prison on a false charge of murder. When he come to the prison, he looks very weak or timid. Some prisoners often try to beat up and rape him. Sometimes he can repulse them, but sometimes he can not. However, in reality he is strong-willed and patient. If he weren't, he would not keep on digging a tunnel for more than ten years to break out of the prison. Also, he is very different from others. He has a strong sense of justice, so he sometimes thinks of ideas which are unthinkable for others, and he puts them into practice in order to make the environment better. For example, he writes a letter a week to get more current books inside the prison and makes a library larger for other prisoners. No matter how trying the circumstances, he never changes his mind or behavior. As a result, his behavior affects the other people around him.
One day, a guard visits to him when he works in the library. The guard wants him to help about an accounting and income tax because he has helped the head of the guards. After that, Andy starts the income tax service. His service using his talent as a banker proves a success, and then, the prison warden makes him a tax accountant for evading a tax. Andy makes a fictitious character and deposit money which the warden get illicitly in a bank under the false name. This work is very danger, but he use that to his advantage. When he breaks out of the prison, he carries out an evidence of the warden's evasion and sends the evidence to a newspaper press. Also, he can withdraw all money from the false name account because he is just the fictitious man's identity.
The last scene is also very impressive. Andy breaks out of the prison, changes his name, and waits for his friend Red. Red is also one of the prisoners who are influenced by Andy in Shawshank. When Red is released on parole, he can not resume his place out of prison because he lived in the prison too long. Like others who were released from prisons, Red almost gives up on life, but he remembers about Andy, and he is encouraged. At last, Red follows the clues left by Andy and goes to see him in order to find a new life. Red's monologue during this part of the movie moves the audience to tears.
These impressive scenes were made by good actors. The main character, Andy Dufresne, is acted by Tim Robbins. He makes very mysterious atmosphere in the movie. Andy is not a talkative person, but Tim's character tells us something which we can not catch by our ears. Also, Morgan Freeman as Red is very different. He always speaks very slowly, and his words have dignity. His performance is tastefully austere. Actually, he was nominated the best supporting actor by this role, so he is a really good actor. These two actors created very warm atmosphere through the story.
This story shows Andy's ways of life deeply. His intense character fascinates the audience. There are some other points which make this story interested, but I do not dare to mention such points because I do not want to take your expectation. There are many classic stories, but few of the classics display the truly unspoiled heroism that is shown in this beautiful story of Andy and the profoundly life-changing effect that he has on those around him. If you have not watched this movie yet, you should.