‘Hope springs eternal…’
The BFI Film Classics series sees a different writer take on a film of their choosing and then justifying their choice across 100 pages or so. Running for over 30 years and featuring almost 200 titles, the Film Classics series has become a beloved and collectable institution for cinema fans everywhere…
Mark Kermode has been a constant presence in the world of cinema for decades now and it is typical of his curiosity that he chose to write about The Shawshank Redemption not because it’s his favourite film but rather because he wanted to understand why so many other people love it – why the film has become so ubiquitous.
Unsurprisingly, his take on Shawshank is impeccably researched and always interesting. He offers numerous examples of symbolism within the film (much of it religious) and places the film in the context of both director Frank Darabont and writer Stephen King. As ever, Kermode does this with both warmth and a dry wit, and perhaps most impressively of all, he always finds something new to say about what is already one of the most discussed films ever made.
Despite on the surface being a series of books designed for film studies students or film nerds, Kermode’s treatise on The Shawshank Redemption is both accessible and literary – a tough balancing act but one that is incredibly compelling when delivered effectively. The result is a joyous celebration of one of cinema’s most beloved masterpieces.