"The Shawshank Redemption" movie summary Automatic translate

A 1984 American drama film based on the short story "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King from his collection The Four Seasons (later included in Stephen King Goes to the Movies). Directed by Frank Darabont, the film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, and his time in Shawshank Penitentiary.

The film begins in 1947, when Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins), a successful and respected banker, is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at Shawshank Penitentiary after being found guilty of the brutal murders of his wife and her lover. Andy maintains his innocence, but the evidence points to him and he is sent to prison. Upon arrival at Shawshank, Andy meets Ellis Redding (played by Morgan Freeman), known as "Red", a seasoned inmate who has been in prison for decades and serves as Shawshank’s smuggler.

In his early days in prison, Andy has a hard time adjusting to prison life, facing the harsh realities of a brutal environment. Warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton) is a corrupt and self-righteous man who runs Shawshank like a dictatorship. Over time, however, Andy begins to gain the trust of the other prisoners, especially Red, and gradually gains the favor of the warden.

Andy uses his skills as a banker to assist prison staff, including the warden, in money laundering and financial schemes. His knowledge of accounting allows him to manage the prison’s finances. Andy helps the warden cover up illegal activities, including using prisoners as a source of cheap labour for local construction projects. As part of his job, Andy helps the warden set up a complex money laundering network through false invoices and even advises him on tax evasion.

Although Andy becomes an invaluable assistant to the warden, he is treated with disdain by the other prisoners. Over time, however, Andy’s reputation begins to grow due to his intelligence, calm demeanor, and ability to perform tasks such as creating detailed tax plans and managing prisoners’ finances. As Andy’s reputation grows, he is granted more freedom within the prison, including the privilege of working in the library.

During his time in Shawshank, Andy continues to maintain his innocence, but as the years pass, his fight for freedom seems increasingly futile. He befriends fellow inmates like Red, who helps him obtain items from outside the prison. The two develop a deep bond of mutual respect and friendship, with Red acting as Andy’s guide through the prison world.

As Andy becomes more involved in the improvement of Shawshank, he also begins to improve the prison’s library system. His efforts to expand the library and promote education lead to him winning the respect of several officials, including the state senate. Andy is able to convince the authorities to allow Shawshank to become a more respected educational institution, something that rarely happens in a prison. His involvement in education reform and rehabilitation becomes his legacy.

One of the key moments occurs when Andy helps a group of younger inmates earn their high school diplomas. His efforts in education also lead to him helping improve the infrastructure of Shawshank, bringing some semblance of order and dignity to the inmates’ lives. Despite his accomplishments, Andy remains trapped in the system, unable to prove his innocence or escape the shadow of his unjust conviction.

Over the years, Red and Andy’s friendship deepens. Red, who has been repeatedly denied parole, reflects on his own life and the possibility of freedom. Andy, however, continues to hope that one day he will be able to get out of Shawshank. Red, on the other hand, believes that a life sentence in Shawshank can destroy hope.

The big twist is that Andy’s plan is revealed when he discovers a way to escape from Shawshank. For years, Andy has been digging a tunnel through the walls of his cell using a hammer, a tool smuggled into the prison by Red. After nearly two decades of digging, Andy finally breaks through to the sewer pipes and escapes from Shawshank. He leaves a message for Red asking him to come to a certain place when he is paroled.

Following Andy’s escape, the film follows the journey of Red, who is finally granted parole after more than forty years in Shawshank. After being released from Shawshank, Red begins to struggle to re-enter society, where he has no family, no friends, and no support system. However, Red follows Andy’s directions and travels to the location Andy tells him to - a small field in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Once there, Red finds a chest of money and a letter from Andy inviting him to join him in his new life.

In the final moments of the film, Red leaves the United States to meet Andy in Mexico. The film ends with Red walking along the beach, where he finally meets Andy, who has found peace and freedom after years of torment.

Despite its limited success at the box office, the film has become a cult classic, praised for its strong acting, direction, and compelling themes of hope, perseverance, and friendship. The film’s popularity has grown over the years, particularly after its release on home video and television. It is now considered one of the greatest films ever made, frequently appearing on best-of lists, and celebrated for its timeless message of hope and redemption.