“Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying.”

Well, here we are ladies and gentlemen. The edge of glory. After weeks of reading what could only be described as my love letters to my favorite films, we have made it to grand ole’ number two; the silver medal, the consolation prize, yadda yadda yadda. You may see this and think oh, it’s the one that just quite missed the mark. But nothing about this movie and its 2 hours and 22 minutes of pure genius could ever be described as missing the mark.

Shawshank Redemption

Shawshank Redemption is a movie I did not want to see. At all. In fact, when my mom nearly choked at the fact that I, the self proclaimed “movie aficionado” had never seen it, and she forced me to watch it with her, I groaned and moaned and moped. It felt antiquated, silly, meaningless: that movie from the 90s with Morgan Freeman that old people like.

I started the movie with this attitude, watching this opening scene with a side eye at my mom (how dare she?) and wanting so badly to hate it and prove her wrong. So there I sat as the minutes ticked on and on and I tried so very hard to hate it, to loathe it with my whole heart. But I couldn’t. My heart, my mind, my eyes, my soul- whatever it may be refused to comply with my plan. And I couldn’t hate it.

How could I when I feel so emotionally invested into the lives of the prisoners at Shawshank, I feel as though they are my best friends? How could I when my stomach turned at my heart raced at the pain of how poor Andy was treated? How could I as I felt as though I personally had been accepted in this world when Morgan Freeman’s character, Red, befriends loner Andy who is in the depths of hell? And certainly, how could I hate this film as the tears streamed down my face during the scene below? (I warn you to watch with caution. It is one of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever watched.)

Shawshank had this magical and rare ability to somehow make an 18 year old girl watching at home in 2019 feel as though was apart of the community of all mate inmates in the Shawshank prison in the 1950s. To establish a sense of commorody and community with an audience is one of the greatest things a film has the ability to do, and truly must qualify it as something special.

It also was able to wonderfully convey a socially conscious message of how we as a society and a country often dehumanize prisoners, forgetting that rehabilitation aspect of prison itself. The corruption within the American correctional facilities is one of the worst in the world, and often times focuses too heavily on how to punish rather then how to heal. Shawshank reminds us that yes, we as humans make mistakes- but we also can learn and grow and still love. We are never too far gone to not deserve the simple, yet all fulfilling love of friendship. This is beautifully displayed in the love between Red and Andy, and bond that is not broken by cinder block walls or electric fences, but withstands hate and persecution through its lasting power. Watch the scene below (beware of spoilers) for what I consider to be the most beautiful and touching way for a movie to end. In fact, it is my favorite ending of all time.

So yes.

I was wrong.

I sit here today knowing full well that my stubborness will kill me one day, that it is my vice through and through. But luckily I have people in my life who won’t take my no for an answer, and will teach me what I refuse to be taught. Sometimes, the story of the movie is amazing. But sometimes the story behind it is even better.

To you, Mom. I love you.

Andy in the Rain