The Shawshank Redemption
a film by Frank Darabont (1994)
based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
__________________________________________________________________________________
1. Internet Movie Database - follow ‘external reviews’ link to read
published reviews.
2. Read Stephen King's novella that inspired the movie on:
www.generationterrorists.com/quotes/rita_hayworth_and_shawshank_r
edemption ...
3. The Shawshank Redemption Web page - includes pictures of the prison
used as the key location in the film
4. www.filmsite.org/shaw3.html
5. Screenplay available on web site: The Free Information Society.
_____________________________________________________________
Themes
□
□
□
□
□
Courage
Loyalty and friendship
Hope
Institutionalisation
Justice/injustice
□
□
□
□
□
Freedom
Redemption
Journey from despair to hope
Andy as 'Christ the redeemer’
Guilt and innocence
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
•
Director/screenwriter Frank Darabont adapted Stephen King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption for
his first feature film.
The inspirational, life-affirming … old-fashioned style Hollywood product (resembling The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) is a
combination prison/dramatic film and character study.
An imposing ‘character’ is Maine's oppressive Shawshank State Prison (actually the transformed, condemned Mansfield
Ohio Correctional Institution or State Reformatory).
Posters for the film illustrate the liberating, redemptive power of hope and the religious themes of freedom and resurrection,
with the words: "Fear can hold you prisoner, Hope can set you free."
Darabont's film is a patiently-told, allegorical tale of friendship, patience, hope, survival, emancipation, and ultimate
redemption and salvation by the time of the film's finale.
It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Adapted
Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound - but it failed to win a single Oscar.
•
•
•
•
•
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/2857/shawshank.html
__________________________________________________________________________________________
90379 (A.S. 2.5) Analyse a visual or oral text
External exam: 3 credits One essay
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
 Analyse specified aspect(s) of a
visual or oral text, using supporting
evidence.
 Analyse specified aspect(s) of a
visual or oral text convincingly,
using supporting evidence.
 Analyse specified aspect(s) of a
visual or oral text convincingly and
with insight, using supporting
evidence.
2007 TOPICS (Choose ONE)
Analyse how techniques strengthened or changed your opinion of a particular topic or issue.
Analyse how ONE main character or individual changed to become more (OR less) admirable.
Analyse how techniques were used to create a strongly positive OR negative mood in ONE
scene / section.
Analyse why you thought either the beginning OR the ending of the text was effective.
4.
Analyse how the text presented a positive OR negative view of humanity and / or society.
5.
6.
Analyse how ONE OR MORE symbols were used to present an important idea or ideas.
____________________________________________________________________________________
1.
2.
3.
2