Film Analysis: The Shawshank Redemption

‘Our interest in the parallels between the adaptation inter-texts is further enhanced by consideration of their marked differences in textual form,’ addresses the process of adaptation used when converting a literary hypotext to the film medium; The Shawshank Redemption (Darabont, Frank) is the film adaptation of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (King, Stephen). The story follows characters Red and Andy who serve life sentences in Shawshank Prison. Over many years a strong bond develops, and Andy, wrongly convicted, inspires many at the prison. After Andy escapes, Red decides to follow him upon being granted parole. The story privileges themes of hope, freedom, institutionalisation, friendship, time, and brutality. The film is similar to the novella, however, some aspects differ from the hypotext. Within the novella, Brooks is a minor character, Tommy Williams doesn’t die, and Warden Norton merely retires. Through altering the story, the film modifies the essence of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption for film audiences and utilises film language to convey meaning. By adding certain scenes, the text takes on stronger themes of hope, institutionalisation and brutality. This draws attention to the themes within the hypotext and thus enhances the parallels between texts.

The English Oxford

The success of the film is due to the alteration of the plot and characters to suit the film format. The Shawshank Redemption is considered to be a ‘classic’ movie, and this is because of the intertextuality, as well as the success in film format. The ‘marked differences’ of Tommy, Brooks and Warden Norton enhance the ‘parallels’ of the script and setting. Thus, in the example of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and its film adaptation, The Shawshank Redemption, the statement can be evaluated to be