Andy Dufresne wrote “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies,” in a letter to Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding in The Shawshank Redemption, and hence, the film is still talked about today! Being a testament to the statements, The Shawshank Redemption is one of the most iconic films ever made in the world and is surely a must-see.
Depicting the story of the redemption of two men through nothing but their companionship by their side, The Shawshank Redemption is a journey. Tim Robbins, who portrayed the lead role of Andy Dufresne also seems to agree and revealed that the film was about a true and deep friendship that lasted a lifetime.
Tim Robbins On Why The Shawshank Redemption Is A Different Film
Claiming to be an innocent person in the murder of his wife, Tim Robbin’s character of Andy Dufresne gets a life sentence at the Shawshank State Penitentiary. Over the two decades, he befriends Ellis “Red” Redding (played by Morgan Freeman), and the story of hope and redemption is presented through the eyes of the two convicts.
Being a masterpiece, people have not forgotten the 1994 movie. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tim Robbins, who portrayed the character of Andy Dufresne talked about the 1994 movie. When asked about why people felt connected to the movie, here’s what Dufresne had for a reply.
“I’ve thought various things over the years, and I think they’re all valid. One is that there are very, very few films that are about the relationship, the friendship between two men that doesn’t involve car chases or being charming with the ladies and those kinds of buddy movies.”
He further continued,
“This one is about a true, deep friendship that lasts. And part of me thinks that people want or need that kind of story to be told. “
Although the friendship aspect is quite prevalent in the film, Tim Robbins revealed that for a larger audience, the film gave them something much more than just a 2-hour flick. Despite the movie failing initially at launch, Robbins revealed that The Shawshank Redemption gave people hope… hope to be better.
Tim Robbins Feels The Shawshank Redemption Gave People Hope!
Being a movie about redemption and the hope of a better future, the 1994 film stuck with the hearts of the people for years to come. As the interview further continued, Tim Robbins said that although friendship is a big theme of the film, giving the people hope was what drew massive audiences to the theaters!
“But in the larger picture, I think it’s a film that is about hope, and about transcending whatever challenges or obstacles are in your life to become a better person. To overcome those obstacles and know that somewhere, if you have patience, and a belief, and you live your life with generosity, that there might be a spot on the beach in Zihuatanejo [Mexico, where Andy and Red meet up at the end of the film] for all of us.”
With hope and redemption along the way, The Shawshank Redemption received a rating of 9.3/10 on IMDB and a whopping 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles, the 1994 film is available to stream on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
