Shaw Shank Redemption

1958 Words8 Pages
Analyse how film techniques are used at the beginning and the end of a text you have studied to convey an important theme or themes. In the film “Shawshank Redemption”, directed by Frank Darabont, many various techniques, including visual and verbal techniques are used to convey the ideas of dehumanisation in the scene of Andy’s arrival and the importance of holding on to hope in the ending scene. These show, in the beginning, the daunting, lifeless place that the prison is, the cruelty and inhumanity that the prison staff show towards the prisoners and then in the end, how important it was for Andy and Red to hang on to hope. In the beginning scene, which is Andy’s arrival at Shawshank prison, there are many effective techniques used. These techniques show how dark and harsh the prison is and what a dehumanising place it is to live in. Music, played by violin is used when Andy is arriving at Shawshank is used to make the viewer aware of how daunting the place is. At the same time, there are helicopter shots, flying over the prison, showing the sheer size and dullness of it. The camera shows us the green grass and plants outside the prison and contrasts this with the inside of the prison, where there is no trace of life apart from the little insect like people running around. This puts emphasis on how lifeless the prison is and how dehumanising it is. We see Andy arriving in the bus and we see him in a close up, handheld shot, showing us the fear and worry that he has on his face. The handheld shot also shows us his discomfort and nerves. This shows that Andy is starting to realise what his fate is; his loss of freedom and an end to his life in the real world. The light is harsh inside the bus and behind Andy we see bars on the back door of the bus, with the green grass behind them, suggesting that he is trapped from the outside world with no way out. There
Open Document