Opening Scene The Shawshank Redemption

1. Opening SceneThe Shawshank Redemption Directed by Frank Darabont

2. Lighting and Music Starts in total darkness blank screen with major credits diegetic music Inkspots’ song : ‘If I Didn’t Care’ playing on car radio Love song about jealousy and confusion – it reflects his mood. Obsession This and the costumes date the film (50s)

3. Editing The scene at the cabin is intercut with the courtroom scene brief flashback-montage of the adulterous couple's passionate lovemaking Andy is reliving the moment in his mind, so we relive it with him

4. Camera Establishing shot: Dark, dimly-lit building in background camera tracks back to pick up dark shape of car; silhouette of driver lit by dash lights; music track decreases in volume camera tracks forward slightly and pans around to pick up driver in medium-side shot; he looks dishevelled, leans forward and reaches over to glove compartment; close-up of hand retrieving bundle from compartment;

5. Reverse angle – back and forth between Andy and the District Attorney Slow pan over jury- blank, respectable, look like they are concentrating cut to close-up of hands preparing revolver, cut to close-medium shot of driver taking another swig dash lights go out; courtroom voice-over becomes prominent; cut to close-up of foot emerging from car – emphasises that he got out of the car soundtrack of things falling; glass breaking; close-up of feet walking towards drive Zooms in on Andy as guilty verdict is delivered

6. Camera, editing, sound Zooms in on Andy ending on Close-up as the realisation of his sentence hits Fade to black: Andy’s life has been plunged into darkness Echoing sound of gavel being struck: stresses the idea of his freedom being taken away

7. Mise-en-Scene CABIN COURTROOM Props Costume Expression Props Costume Expression

8. Red • Props – hat that he takes off to show respect, • Costume – prison uniform – he is part of that lif • Expression/stance – uneasy, • Scenery – steel doors and bars – trapped • Dialogue – “Yessir”, pre-prepared speech

9. Red • Extreme close up on form being stamped: REJECTED. • This is a recurring motif • This reinforces a main idea – the characters’ lack of freedom • Dialogue – “Same old shit, different day”, accepted his fate • Camera tracks, we see Red as part of the crowded prison, followed by others. • Swears, seems tough, “There must be a con like me in every prison in America”

10. Red Guilty Poor Uneducated Seems at home in the prison black Andy Innocent Middle-class Educated An outsider White Contrast

11. Red speaks in a voice-over: • “So when Andy Dufresne came to me in 1949 and asked me to smuggle Rita Hayworth into the prison for him, I told him no problem” – intriguing for the viewer • Establishing shot of prison – aerial view makes prisoners look small and insignificant

12. Essay • Grabs the viewer’s attention – the mystery of whether Andy committed murder or not; find out about Andy; is he going to cope in prison; is he going to get on with Red; will Red get out? • Character of Andy • Relationship with Red • Themes introduced – justice and freedom

13. Dialogue • DA: I'll see you in Hell before I see you in Reno. • Evidence given of his aggressive temper • Andy: I stopped and I threw my gun into the Royal River. I feel I’ve been very clear on this point • Shows Andy being calm and reasonable • Since I am innocent of this crime, sir, I find it decidedly inconvenient that the gun was never found. • Trying to show respect and remain calm – formal language, educated

14. Dialogue • DA: They had sinned; But was their crime so great as to merit a death sentence? • “They” are Andy’s wife and lover. Introduces the idea: what is fair punishment? • Judge: You strike me as a particularly icy and remorseless man. Mr Dufresne. It chills my blood just to look at you. • This judgement does not sound just or fair. We ask ourselves if Andy is “icy and remorseless”?

15. Justice The contrast of the two sides of Andy presented make him intriguing We are uncertain of his guilt or innocence Andy is going to jail. The audience want to know how he will cope with the hardship of being thrown into a situation he does not seem suited to The rest of the film explores his ability to cope, His search for justice And redemption Redemption means finding forgiveness for what you have done wrong (Andy and Red)

16. Theme - Justice • His wife and lover have ‘sinned’ • And Andy is accused of taking ‘revenge’ • We have seen him tried in a court of law • The evidence overwhelmingly suggests he is guilty; the judge seems certain of it • The film explores this theme: is imprisonment and the way it makes inmates ‘instutionalised’ really justice? • Are the authorities fair and just?