Exploring your own soul

Rating: 9/10 (1 August 2005)

Rarely has a director connected so well to the spirit of a story, and with the impeccable work of Morgan Freeman, whose narration is nothing short of perfect, and Tim Robbins' everyman, "Shawshank" delivers an almost perfect film. Frank Darabont has opened up the short story and created a work that explores what lurks in the souls of people. He has added details that allow us to understand how the human spirit manages to survive in the worst of conditions. He also shows us that beauty lies in just about any place in this world.
The film moves very well, taking us for a long and rewarding ride. Characters age and evolve, discovering how their relationships with others always have consequences. Tim Robbins remains at the center, and he becomes, for most of the film, an observer, our representative in a world that could destroy you if you let it.
We relate to the men of "Shawshank" because they are our representatives in a microcosm of society. We observe as we participate and see our reflections in a mini study of emotions and mind games.