Andy Dufresne, the hero of this film, was originally a successful banker. Because he was trapped and killed his wife and her lover, he will be sentenced to life imprisonment twice. This means that the protagonist will have to spend the rest of his life in prison. Different from similar works in which the suspect and the prosecutor are fighting each other, in the introduction part of the film, the director did not talk too much about the court debate, but adopted a low-key treatment, which not only avoided the deliberate sympathy for the protagonist, but also played down the important event of "unjust case". Let the audience feel that Andy's imprisonment is just an inevitable opportunity in his life journey.
With the development of the story, the implication of the "sketch" technique adopted at the beginning of the film slowly surfaced. Since Andy went to Shawshank prison, the film has never observed the world from Andy's perspective. Instead, another hero, Rhett, advances the plot with a calm and peaceful narrative. This unique narrative style not only avoids the trap of individual heroism, but also highlights the unique personality charm of the movie hero.
As an old prisoner who has served 20 years in Shawshank prison, Rhett's narrative represents the value orientation of most prisoners. Because of the denial of parole several times, Rhett has a thorough understanding of the so-called "transformation" that prisons get by killing humanity. "When you first entered the prison, you hated the high walls around you; Slowly, you get used to living in it; In the end, you will find that you have to rely on it to survive. " It is this decades-long "transformation" that has made the mind that originally yearned for freedom "accustomed" to the imprisonment of the cage. It also makes the teenagers who used to be high-spirited and full of lofty sentiments washed away by the years into "sleek, sophisticated" and "mature" old men who dare not go out of line at all. The saddest thing is that the "habit" that has firmly locked the head of personality comes from our own hands.
If habit is the murderer who stifles freedom and erodes personality, then clinging to hope is the only weapon against it. Due to the tyranny of the warden and the determination of his innocence, Andy began to reflect on his life in a short time after he was imprisoned, and quietly paved the way to freedom.
Unlike the fierce conflict between the protagonist and the prison guard in similar films, Andy spent most of his time in prison in a dormant state. Several rebellions only showed his tenacity and wisdom more. Because Andy understands that hope itself does not need enthusiasm, and passionate hope is just a spark that blooms in the depths of the soul, gorgeous but short-lived! The value of hope lies in persistence, which is manifested in a state of being unobtrusive and not showing off, and creating a sky of your own in your heart.
Day after day, the boring and rigid life in prison is like Andy's sandpaper grinding stones, polishing all the corners of human nature. In order to maintain the faint fire of hope in his heart, he sought the support of the library, wrote a letter to the state legislature every week for seven consecutive years, and exchanged the price of two weeks' imprisonment for prisoners to enjoy a moment of music, so as to awaken their yearning for a better life and help young prisoners get a high school diploma ... Andy made others feel the true meaning of life in this way and completed a journey of 20 years.
Rhett, who can get a lot of contraband by his own skill, is deeply afraid of hope. Hope is dangerous and the root of all pain. In the face of the blow of life and endless "transformation", all good wishes seem to have become luxury goods. In prison, Rhett's mainstream views have a good market. It is this indifference to the habit of walking dead that has made the "reform" an unprecedented success. When they finally got the parole order, they showed fear and anxiety instead of joy. Even looking forward to returning to prison, this is because a bird with broken wings can no longer fly in the blue sky, and his only choice can only be self-destruction.
Cowardice imprisons the soul and hopes to be free. The strong help themselves, and the saints help others. At the end of the film, the person who really needs to be saved is Rhett who has been trying to save others. However, in the face of the injustice of fate, Andy can show unhappiness with things or sorrow for himself, and silently build his future in the contest with the warden. When others are still living in despair about how to spend their boring time in prison. Andy has begun to look forward to his other life. When he climbed over the sewer symbolizing all the filth and injustice in life and finally devoted himself to freedom away from 20 years, I believe that every audience was shocked by the "hope" of finally defeating "habit".
Andy in prison succeeded. What about us in real life?
Excerpts from the dialogue full of wisdom and warning in the film:
Warden: There are only two things here, discipline and the Bible. Give your soul to God and yourself to me.
Rhett: "when you first went to prison, you hated the high walls around you;" Slowly, you get used to living in it; Eventually you will find that you have to rely on it to survive. "
"I have always felt guilty about what I have done, not because I am here, nor because I want to please you. Looking back on the detours I have taken, I want to say something to a stupid young man who has committed a felony, tell him how I feel now, and tell him that there are other ways to solve the problem. However, I can't. Young people have long been submerged in the long river of years, leaving only an old man to face the past and turn over a new leaf? It's just a lie, son. Don't waste my time, put your seal on it. I have nothing to say. "
Andy: That's interesting. I used to be honest and pedantic, but I ended up in prison and became a big liar. "always look at yourself, and god will come to you at any time."
"Hope is the best wealth of mankind. As long as you don't give up, hope will always accompany you. "