Didn't you say that we would lose money after filming?

The last part of the film review is about the remaining core issues and other shortcomings of the film.

The performances of the supporting actors were equally wonderful. The actor who played Old Bull used his shaking hands and hunched back to create the image of an old man who was completely domesticated by the system. When he released the crow, his words "You are free" were both a blessing to the bird and a lament for his own inability to adapt to freedom.

And the warden Norton, played by Xia Ke, created a chilling villain image through his hypocritical acting style - sanctimoniousness when quoting the Bible and cold greed when laundering money.

Director Xia Yuan specially designed side light and top light for him to enhance his sinister characteristics, and the actor accurately grasped the light and shadow cues, using subtle changes in expression to show the character's dual personality.

The group performance in the film is also excellent.

This is even the core of the film and the point that Xia Yuan attaches the most importance to expressing.

The relaxed postures and expressions of the prisoners drinking beer on the roof convey a rare sense of freedom; the scene of everyone standing still and looking up while listening to the opera forms a shocking visual group portrait; in the chaotic scene of Andy's cell inspection after escaping prison, the reactions of each prison guard and prisoner are in line with the character setting. This consistency of the overall performance makes Shawshank Prison a convincing "ecosystem".

The deep structure of multiple redemptions expressed in the theme of "The Shawshank Redemption" is a profound allegory of hope and freedom constructed through exquisite audio-visual language and performance. Its theme expression has a multi-layered structure, far beyond the scope of ordinary prison break films.

The most superficial redemption of the film is Andy's personal proof of innocence and physical freedom.

Banker Andy was wrongfully imprisoned. After twenty years of planning, he finally escaped from prison and exposed the warden's crimes.

This plot line is full of dramatic tension, but the greatness of the film lies in the fact that it transcends the level of individual destiny and explores the more universal theme of spiritual redemption.

Andy not only saved himself, but also brought the light of knowledge and beauty to Shawshank Prison by building a library, playing music, and helping his fellow inmates obtain academic qualifications, thus achieving redemption for his fellow inmates. In particular, the redemption of Red was the most profound - Andy's Pacific dream and the final promise enabled Red to avoid the tragedy of Old Bull and find hope to live.

The film's criticism of the American institutionalization is particularly sharp.

Through the comparison between Old Bull and Red, it shows how long-term imprisonment erodes the human soul.

Old Bull was respected in prison, but committed suicide after he was released because he could not adapt to freedom; Red failed to be released on parole twice, but was released the third time when he no longer met the expectations of the system. This paradox deeply reveals the absurdity of the system.

Andy represents the possibility of not being institutionalized - he uses geological knowledge to calculate the excavation progress, uses financial skills to exchange for living space, and uses legal knowledge to fight back against the warden. He always maintains professionalism and independent thinking, which is the most powerful weapon against institutionalization.

The film's religious metaphors are also worth noting.

The plaque "The Judgment of the Lord is Coming" on the wall of the warden's office forms an ironic contrast with the final ending of suicide in front of the safe; the plot of Andy crawling through the dirty sewer to gain a new life is a subtle reference to the Christian baptism ceremony; and the reunion on the Pacific Ocean is like the promised land of heaven.

One can even see a kind of irony and mockery towards the squid's appearance.

These metaphors elevate Andy's prison escape into a ritual of spiritual transcendence, giving the film the depth of a religious allegory.

The presentation of the theme of time is equally exquisite.

Andy spent six years writing a letter every week to get funding for the library, and twenty years digging a tunnel. These long-term persistence shows the duality of time as a test and purgatory. As Red commented: "The concept of geological time is good for Andy." Andy's success lies precisely in his understanding and control of the power of time. The scene of the two old men reuniting on the Pacific Ocean at the end of the film is both a healing of the trauma of time and the ultimate reward for persistence.

Finally, from the perspective of narrative structure, the film uses Red’s narration perspective to maintain suspense.

After all, the audience, like Red, does not know Andy's plan, which adds to the depth of philosophical thinking. This narrative method that balances the subjective and objective makes the 156-minute film feel not lengthy at all, but full of the fun of discovery. The time jump is also very precise - through key events, the span of years is linked together, which not only shows the gradual process of institutionalization, but also maintains the compactness of the narrative.

In terms of the combination of sound and picture, the film has also reached a near-perfect level.

Thomas Newman's score enhances the mood without being too overpowering; the insertion of "The Marriage of Figaro" is not only a plot requirement, but also becomes an auditory symbol of hope; the natural sound effects of the rainstorm and prison break segment and the symphony of music create an exciting audio-visual experience.

The sound design is equally exquisite - the contrast between the subtle sounds of Andy digging the tunnel and the daily noise of the prison, and the gradual transition of music from the speakers to the entire prison when playing opera, all show the powerful expressiveness of sound as a narrative element.

The density of detail in the film is astounding.

The gradually changing posters of actresses in Andy's cell not only marked the passage of time, but also cleverly concealed the tools for escaping the prison;

The hammer is hidden in the Bible (which happens to be the chapter of "Exodus"), which is a subtle reference to the theme of prison break; the warden's polished shoes are finally worn by Andy, completing the perfect revenge on the hypocrites. These carefully designed details make the film worth watching repeatedly, and you can discover new layers every time.

Again, Xia Yuan is still so amazing in terms of smuggling his own agenda.

However, this also laid some hidden dangers for this film.

That is, this movie is a mockery and satire of the squid crowd.

This makes people worry whether he will be accused of discriminating against squid people.

Especially in today's general environment of sympathy for squids.

Of course, the greatest subtlety of The Shawshank Redemption is that it transcends the limitations of genre.

On the surface it is a prison break film, but in reality it is a fable about the human spirit.

It not only tells Andy's story, but also is a metaphor for every modern person's pursuit of freedom in various "systems".

As a film critic said: "High walls don't take away freedom, but thoughts do. Never confine yourself." This universality allows the film to transcend cultural boundaries and impress audiences around the world.

As film art becomes increasingly fast-food-oriented, "The Shawshank Redemption" reminds us that great films require us to carefully savor every word of the shot.

It does not rely on visual spectacles or plot gimmicks, but conveys eternal thoughts about hope and freedom through solid scripts, superb performances, and perfect audio-visual language. As actor Chu Zhongtian said: "Every time I think back to the days of playing this film, tears well up in my eyes" - this is the power of this movie.

There is no doubt that it is enough to be included in the most important page of film and television! 】

However, it was at this time that the emergence of film reviews pushed Xia Yuan and the film's popularity and attention to its peak.

Another turning point broke out on the Internet.

[Shocked! Xia Yuan is actually a racist! He discriminates!] (End of this chapter)