Introduction
The Shawshank Redemption is one of the most iconic films produced in the nineties. Considering that it was a time where anti-prisoner sentiment in the US was on the rise, the film, which humanizes prisoners, would inevitably become controversial. However, controversies aside, the movie is also famous due to its extensive use of filmmaking techniques. Understanding what factors distinguish the movie is essential in ascertaining their importance in perceiving the story of The Shawshank Redemption.
Director
The director of the movie was Frank Darabont, whose fascination with Stephen King’s writing made the movie possible. King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption was the original source for The Shawshank Redemption. Darabont expanded upon the original storyline by flashing out some of the characters more than it was done in the novella. This was especially evident with such characters as Brooks, Tommy, and Bogg.
The reason why Darabont’s direction of the movie is important lies in his desire to show a different perspective on the lives of prisoners. The common Hollywood depiction of prison settings is different from The Shawshank Redemption. The audience is used to seeing extremely violent settings where prisoners are savage and brutal. As such, there is no incentive for the viewers to pay attention to small details about prisoners. However, knowing that Darabont wrote the script, such small details become important. For instance, seemingly innocuous scenes, such as Brooks’ feeding of the pigeon, add important characterization to secondary characters. Darabont uses these scenes to humanize prisoners and make their characters likeable.
Producer
Although Frank Darabont takes the most credit, his accomplishments would not have been possible had it not been for the producer of the movie – Niki Marvin. There were several important decisions made during the production phase that determined the movie’s success. Probably, the most important one was the choice of location for filming, as the film was shot in the buildings that were used as a real prison.
Editing
Although the plot of the movie is straightforward, scene editing is varied by the use of flashbacks. They can be seen at the start of the movie when the court scene is interrupted by depictions of Andy’s actions prior to the murder of his wife and her lover. Yet, the sudden scene swap does not break immersion as both scenes are connected by voiceover narration. The same technique is used when the movie shows how Andy escapes prison. The sequence that explains it is shown after the moment when Andy is found missing (Darabont 01:54:20). This editing technique is used to signify that character development is more important than action scenes in this movie.
Cinematography
One of the main advantages of cinema is its ability to convey messages without any text lines. The Shawshank Redemption also utilizes this opportunity to its fullest. Most notably, camera angles in certain scenes are extremely informative. For instance, the scene where Captain Hadley beats a new inmate is filmed with the camera on the ground (Darabont 00:19:00). This setup allows viewers to experience the domination of prison guards over the prisoners. The camera also captures the background of the building, where metal staircases rise indefinitely. Without a single line of text, this scene informs the audience of the isolation, subjugation, and overall hardships prisoners endure.
Similarly, upper camera angles symbolize freedom from imprisonment. When Andy completes his escape, he raises his arms to the sky, and the camera is pointed at him from a higher position (Darabont 02:00:23). A usual prison escape movie would have a plot where prison guards search for an escaped prisoner, which would add additional tension. However, the use of the camera indicates the conclusion of Andy’s imprisonment arc. Although a search party is sent later, the audience already knows that Andy will not be found. Once again, the camera angle conveys an important plot point with any dialogue and smoothes the transition from the climax of the story to the denouement.
Sound
Sound is a vital part of any modern film because it accentuates the mood and the atmosphere. It should be noted that The Shawshank Redemption does not use sound to deliver important information, as scenes are written in such a way that the audience understands what will happen next. However, sound does help underscore the atmosphere of all scenes. For instance, scenes filled with tension, such as Andy’s encounter with the Sisters, use suspenseful music indicating a violent resolution (Darabont 00:31:28). Similarly, the suspense effect is used in the scene explaining how Andy escaped (Darabont 01:55:16), thus warning the audience that a mystery will soon be explained. However, the most notable usage of sound is made during the resolution to Brooks’ story arc. Having spent decades in prison, he faces severe obstacles in learning to live in conditions outside of prison. The sound is composed of piano and Brooks’ narration of his letter to the inmates. It prepares the audience for a sad resolution, which transpires when Brooks commits suicide (Darabont 01:04:55). Without the sound, all these scenes would probably feel shallow and lacking to the audience.
Music
The Shawshank Redemption is an odd film in that it uses music to both advance plot and underscore storylines. First, soundtrack is used to showcase the years during which the film is set. For instance, the movie opens up with the song “If I Didn’t Care” by the Ink Spots, which was a popular American band in the forties, when the movie starts. Aside from several already existing by the time movie was made tracks, most of the score was written by Thomas Newman. As is the case with the sound, all soundtrack is used for individual scenes.
Usually, characters in films are not aware of the soundtrack, which is directed solely at viewers. However, in one instance, not only do characters acknowledge the music, but it also drives the plot forward. As Andy turns on an opera piece via a public address system, all people in prison are shown listening to it (Darabont 01:08:24). This scene is important because it shows the humanity of inmates. It also breaks the stereotype that prisoners are corrupt human beings who see no value in life. As inmates stand motionless listening to music, it becomes evident to the viewers that prisoners can appreciate art, which is humanizing device.
Lighting
The use of lighting helps underscore the themes of the movie. Overall, two types of lighting are used throughout the movie: low-key and high-key. Low-key lighting represents isolation, loneliness, depression, and hopelessness. Many scenes are also extremely dark, with no natural source of lighting. In the scene where prison Warden Samuel Thorton is introduced, the background is completely black (Darabont 00:14:05). He talks about trusting the Lord and commitment to discipline, yet the absence of light showcases him as an antagonist with an ulterior motive.
The absence of natural light is a frequent theme throughout the movie, especially in cells. However, there are also scenes outside that indicate loneliness despite the presence of natural light, as is it can be seen when Brooks feeds birds (Darabont 01:03:07). Red later faces a similar challenge as he contemplates possible perpetration to return to prison (Darabont 02:10:47). A careful use of shadows indicates that both characters are deeply depressed despite being on parole.
At the same time, high-key lighting is used to represent hope. Most of the interactions between characters that explore their inner depths have high-key lighting. It can be seen in the scene where Andy and Red make each other’s acquaintance (Darabont 00:25:50), or when they contemplate on life outside prison (Darabont 01:42:12). The rooftop scene stands out in particular because its use of lighting dissolves tension that is created when Captain Hadley nearly pushes Andy out of the roof (Darabont 00:36:47). It is evident that Captain is angry, yet the audience understands that the situation will be resolved peacefully because high-key lighting indicates a positive resolution.
Location
The Shawshank Redemption was filmed in a former prison, which is appropriate for a film about prison life. Unless the movie is explicitly focused on life in prisons, outside shots are generally avoided in order to minimize production costs. However, this film is different in that it accentuates location explicitly. There are a number of panoramic shots that show the overall outlay of the cell blocks. When Andy arrives in prison, the camera focuses on his gaze towards a prison wall (Darabont 00:12:39). This detail informs the viewers that the primary setting of the movie is prison.
Wardrobe
A large amount of prison power dynamics is communicated with the use of clothes. All prisoners in the movie wear the same outfit, which is usually worn-out and dirty. However, some characters have higher status, which is reflected in their apparel. Andy also spends his first years in prison doing dirty labor (Darabont 00:32:58). As he is assigned to library, his wardrobe also starts to change and look more solid (Darabont 00:56:07). The cleanest clothes are worn by people in authority or those who are not incarcerated. It is especially evident, when Brooks is released as he wears a black tuxedo (Darabont 01:00:26). Samuel Thorton has the best wardrobe in the film, which signifies his highest position of power. One particular item of his apparel is given special attention – shoes. Stealing Thorton’s shoes was a part of Andy’s plan to avoid capture because dogs would pick Norton’s scent, not Andy’s. Immediately after Andy steals the shoes, he puts them on, and the audience sees the stark contrast between high-class footwear and untidy prisoner clothes (Darabont 01:57:09). As such, the wardrobe is used to both highlight power dynamics within the prison and to move the plot forward.
Conclusion
Altogether, it should be evident that The Shawshank Redemption is a complex motion picture employing numerous filmmaking techniques, thus improving the viewers’ experience of the story. Frank Darabont and Niki Marvin made important choices that were vital for the films’ success. The reason why the movie resonates so strongly with the audience lies in its reliance on cinematography, editing, and sound to help the scriptwriter and actors relay the story to the audience. Ultimately, The Shawshank Redemption is successful because it follows the universal rule of movie making – “show, don’t tell”.
Work Cited
Darabont, Frank, director. The Shawshank Redemption. Columbia Pictures, 1994.