The Shawshank Redemption

SCREENING REPORT

The Shawshank Redemption

Lorvingsky Dorielan

1.            Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Shawshank Redemption is a movie adapted from the novel “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” by Stephen King. In class it was discussed that the ending of the movie was changed to the satisfaction of everyone involved in the end. While searching the internet the differences in the ending I could find was with the warden, and Red and Andy reuniting. In the book the warden simply resigns after Andy’s escape (What's the Difference between Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption the Book and The Shawshank Redemption the Movie). I feel this was changed to show us a concept. The idea that how the people who use their power unjustly with fear, are usually using that to mask their cowardice. As it was shown in the ending of the film with the warden's death. Also, in the short story Red just hopes to see Andy again (Higgins, para. 6). Instead redemption from a hopeless place is reached within the movie as they meet at a place of freedom.

Citation - What's the Difference between Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption the Book and The Shawshank Redemption the Movie?. Retrieved from http://thatwasnotinthebook.com/diff/rita_hayworth_and_shawshank_redemption_book_1982_vs_the_shawshank_redeption_movie_1994

Citation - Higgins, B. The Shawshank Redemption: A Novel and Film Comparison. Retrieved from http://theclassicshawshankredemption.weebly.com/filmnovel-comparison.html

2.            Find a related article (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) and summarize the content. You may use the library or the internet

The related article I decided to use for this screening report correlates with the artistic content in the film. It was mentioned in class that the scene with seemingly hundreds of grasshoppers was real. Not the scene itself, but the grasshoppers in that particular scene were. For some reason that I have no idea why, that situation remained stuck in my head. Because of that, I chose to use an article about grasshoppers’ symbolisms and relate it to the film. The content in the article I selected to use is about the spiritual meanings grasshoppers have in the presence of a person’s life. In the article there are topics of grasshoppers in an individual’s dreams, and relation with ancient Egypt. Nonetheless the matter of the grasshoppers being present in someone’s life is what is most interesting to me, as it relates to the screening.

Cite the article or copy the URL to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.

Lune, C. d. (2016). What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Grasshopper?. Retrieved from http://www.lightforcenetwork.com/forum/6/what-spiritual-meaning-grasshopper

Shawshank Redemption Ending – (Exact moment Red took leap of faith after reading Andy’s letter at 1:39). Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7MMTmVZcVs

3.            Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

There are moments in a person’s life that the same things that seemingly had no importance, resonates greatly with them at a different time. One of these moments that I experienced was during the screening of The Shawshank Redemption. Those instances happened a few times while watching the movie, but particularly during the ending scene. I got the feeling and idea of taking a leap of faith in the direction that was always wanted while watching it. Beforehand, Red was in downward spiral heading to what he always feared. His lack of hope in coping in the outside world that he was given, became a reality more than a previously horrifying idea. However seeing this, his worst fear became his greatest inspiration towards his new found hope. With that he found Andy’s letter and headed where he always wanted to be, but didn’t believe was possible. Red finally decided to get busy living. All of the above is from my own ideas, with having “leap of faith” thoughts of my own as a driving force behind it. Then with the mention of grasshoppers, it being stuck in my mind, I researched and saw the parallels within the movie. 

Searching throughout the internet, I couldn’t find a definitive answer on the reason why grasshoppers where in that scene. Nevertheless, there are too many parallels between them that I couldn’t ignore. These correlations supported the way I thought about the film. According to “What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Grasshopper?”, “When the grasshopper appears to us we are being asked to take a leap of faith and jump forward into a specific area of life without fear. Usually that specific area is one that we have avoided and is often connected to change on a larger scale (Lune, 2016, para. 1).” Also in the article it is stated, “Grasshoppers can only jump forward....not backward, or sideways. So, when a grasshopper shows up he could be reaffirming to you that you are taking the right steps to move forward in your current situation. Or it could be that he is telling you to go ahead and move forward, getting past what is hindering you (Lune, 2016, para. 2).” These two quotes relate to that specific scene so much so that I cannot look past it even more. Furthermore, immediately after Red read Andy’s letter he took his leap of faith finally without his crippling fear. The next shot shows him walking in the same direction of the grasshoppers. This indicates in my perspective, that connection between the latter quote and the film. As this is seen to me as the presence of the grasshoppers are reaffirming the right steps are being taken. These aspects may have been unintentionally put into the film, or it can just be my own outlook. All in all, it gave me a certain feeling and connection I don’t mind having even if wrong.

4.            Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.

“Every great film should seem new every time you see it. “- Roger Ebert. The quote is in the first page of the syllabus, and correlates more with me than any other screening so far. The Shawshank Redemption is a movie that I wanted to see for a long period of time. When I finally saw it I was highly impressed and enjoyed every moment of it. Fast forward to last Friday a couple years has passed until I watched it again. I was impressed and enjoyed it again, but with age and experience I was able to “feel” the movie in a way I couldn’t before. With the reoccurring thoughts I have now and new found perspective I see within the movie, a connection was made. To the point where I decided to get the movie and watch it again. Films that cause this are a vital reason to why there made to me. That alone places The Shawshank Redemption in film history, let alone the recognition and accolades it has garnered. The reality behind the concept of the story, and the acting of it cements this film forever in time.