The Film The Shawshank Redemption is a film which was based entirely around central themes. Those include Freedom as Norton said “Freedom lies within”, redemption and the fact that it lay in truth and finally, the cornerstone of friendship and loyalty. All these themes are emphasized by Frank darabont’s use of lighting, and how it adds importance to the scene’s and helps the viewers understand the scene and the characters.
In the first still frame of the guards looking up at the prisoners, a low-angle shot is used of them as a focal point. Standing in their black uniforms like that of Nazi storm troopers, with the ability to blend into the darkness”YOU EAT WHEN WE SAY YOU EAT! YOU PISS WHEN WE SAY YOU PISS! YOU SHIT
WHEN WE SAY YOU SHIT! YOU SLEEP WHEN WE SAY YOU SLEEP!” .
The lighting of this shot emphasizes a feeling of inferiority,
“Some birds aren’t meant to be caged” that was Andy and that’s what the film based it’s story around redemption and freedom. Through aspects of lighting which in the end hightened mood, tension , laughter to make The Shawshank Redemption the film that it truly is. “get busy living or get busy dying” life is what you make it