Shawshank Redemption and Film Launguage

The Shawshank Redemption is a feature film concerned with the repression of individuals within an institution- a prison in this case. It is concerned with routine, forced conformity, power abuse and the struggle of hope to exist in such a lifeless world.Characteristic of this "feel good" genre film, the "good guys", Andy Dufrense, and the "bad guys", the warden and his guards are also constructed. The viewers response to the above elements are shaped …

…manipulation of the sub-conscious in feature films is a technique that directly achieves its purpose. But it must be remembered that the visual impact of a text becomes a superficial 'picture' of events if it is not underpinned by a strong narrative that takes the lead. With this element, the effectiveness of the visual element would diminish as quickly as the impact was made, and the directors aim, to influence the viewer, certainly not achieved.