THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - Filmic Methods used. A* Grade! - page 1
Keywords: The shawshank redemption gcse english media film frank darabont andy dufresne red Tim Robbins Morgan Freeman duframe A* grade standard filmic methods cinema cinematic coursework
By Baron on 04/07/2009
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
The Shawshank Redemption
“The key to the film's structure is that it's not about it's hero, but about our relationship with him – our curiosity, our pity, out admiration.” Analyse the filmic methods Frank Darabont uses to stir these feelings for the audience in The Shawshank Redemption.
A film's structure is how each scene is linked together and how each scene works by itself. The tension in a scene rises until it reaches a climax, until a resolution is reached. In The Shawshank Redemption the audience frequently thinks they know what is going on, until they are proved otherwise. They are only sure what is going on when Norton rips the poster down to reveal the hole that Andy used to outwit and humiliate him. Darabont uses contrast to show the difference between good and bad people, as in light against dark. Prison is a good setting for a tense and suspenseful drama because of the ongoing battle between prisoners and guards.
When Andy is being given his sentence a close up shot is used of his head and shoulders. The camera moves closer slowly closer as the judge delivers his sentence to show Andy's facial expression and how shocked he is. We don't know if Andy is innocent or guilty because that would ruin the whole point of the film. We have to make our own mind up about Andy – we are kept in suspense as to weather he is innocent or guilty. We pity Andy getting sent to jail because in our hearts we know he's innocent and doesn't deserve it. The audience admires Andy for taking it so well, and for how he copes with this injustice.
We see a point of view shot during the prisoners arrival scene when Andy looks up at the prison wall. This emphasizes the scale of the prison, and how intimidating it is. Another point of view shot is Red's view of the prisoners as we see Andy looking sad and dejected, Red places a bet that he will be the one to “crack” on his first night. This shows that Red doesn't think much of Andy at first sight. This is how we know that these two people will be the main characters for the rest of the film, as Andy's “redemption” will prove.
Darabont uses Red as a narrator because we already know we can trust him and he is such an influential character.
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