A discussion of the movie, “Shawshank Redemption.”

OVERVIEW

An intriguing story of friendship between a black and white prisoner is set in the context of failed marital love. An old love song, “Is it love without compare?” highlights true friendship after the low-light of marital infidelity. Another contrast, between the hopefulness of real friendship and the despair of loneliness stands out in this film—illustrating the truth of ancient Jewish wisdom literature: “two are better than one… but woe to one who is alone.”

The 1994 movie is directed by Frank Darabont.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help…(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Two primary characters:

• Red (Ellis Redding): In prison for a youthful crime 20 years ago.
• Andy (Andrew Dufresne): A bank officer wrongly accused of murdering his wife, found dead in the arms of her lover.

The movie opens with scene of Andy’s wife’s murder with radio playing ironic words for two self-centered, careless lovers:

If I didn’t care more than words can say If this isn’t love then why do I thrill? Is it love without compare?

Brooks is the long-term, old librarian at Shawshank Prison. The system decides he can leave to live out his final years. Brooks explains why he is reluctant to leave:

These walls are funny. First you hate them. Then you get used to them. Then you need them.

Paroled, Brooks tries his best but can’t make it. Writing a note back to prison, he says, “I don’t like it here. I’ve decided not to stay.” Brooks hangs himself.

but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help…

Andy and Red have much to give each other. Andy convinces Red to join him in a hotel and fishing enterprise in a little West-coast town. The film ends with their reunion.

If I didn’t care more than words can say If this isn’t love then why do I thrill? Is it love without compare? Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other…

LEADER PREPARATION

• Find someone else who likes this movie and review it together. Decide whether you will use clips or the whole movie in your group meeting.
• Review the Overview above and decide how you will introduce the film and lead the discussion after viewing.

GROUP DISCUSSION

• What impressed you most in this film? Why?
• What do friendship and love have to do with each other?
• How deep is the hurt from false friendship/love and rejection? How can one bounce back or go on?
• Among the many functions of pop culture are its surveillance of the cultural scene and its shedding light on hidden or misunderstood corners of society. What do you see as one of the social function of this film—as well as a subordinate theme?
• To what segment of our society is prison life particularly important? How has prison life influenced ghetto life and all of society—in fact all of global youth culture?
• What does the Bible, and Jesus, have to say about prisoners?
• What does the Bible mean when it says that two are better than one and that one alone may fall?
• What does Jesus have to do with friendship and love?

WRAP-UP

Friendship, love, injustice, prison life, and hypocrisy (of the prison warden with his Bible) are all themes of this movie. As facilitator of the discussion, you may take off on any one of them in wrapping up your discussion—pointing them to applications in their own lives and possibly to directions the group will take next. [In Christian groups, you will find ways in which Jesus is a fulfillment of each theme or a source of answers for all questions.]

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

Most of us, and especially young people, like to discuss movies we have seen. In natural ways you can refer back to this movie and help a young friend reflect on his or her own life situation. Reference and request for feedback can also be part of your next group meetings.

IMPLICATIONS

• “Shawshank” begins with a scary vision of prison entry and life. Too many of us take life in prison these days—and the presence of some innocent persons there—for granted. We also need to be reminded of the many reasons for the huge disproportion of black and Hispanic prisoners in the system. Why isn’t there more discussion about prison philosophy and how it is carried out? Prison reform would be to the great advantage of tax payers and all society.
• In this movie it was the white prisoner who was innocent. What reasons create a reality in which a higher percentage of black prisoners are being found innocent?
• The main theme of this movie is real friendship. Interestingly, many have found critical lessons about life behind bars. It may be that prisons and prisoners can teach our societies some very important lessons.
• All of us may undervalue true friendship. Teenagers may prize passionate infatuations above solid friendships.

Dean Borgman cCYS