Seeing as its holidays, I’m in a very leisurely position where I can stay up till 1am watching one of my favorite films of all time, The Shawshank Redemption. There’s little to hate about this movie, it’s a classic. The story is so unique and unrelatable to most of us that watch it, yet the humanity that the actors bring to the prisoners they’re playing makes you feel like you could somehow possibly understand what they are going through. Andy and Reds relationship has to be one of my favorite of any two characters, in any film I’ve seen. Andy is the sort of character that I would want to be, he’s magnanimous, courageous and importantly hopeful. I must note now, this post isn’t a review on the movie, nor is it a post detailing my serious crush on Tim Robbins/Andy Dufrane.
A movie like Shawshank, shows just what these convicts go through day in day out, and it really makes me think. I understand that those prisoners are in there for a specific reason, you commit a felony you must pay the price; this is not unfair. I understand that this is a sensitive subject, yet a large part of me believes that when people commit serious crimes, they aren’t monsters, they are mentally unwell. No one in their right mind would purposefully hurt a person, therefore common sense tells me that people who commit crimes are not in their right state of mind. I believe you must look at the psyche of a person, truly get to the depths of who they are in order to understand the true reason why anyone does anything, let alone someone who has committed a serious crime. Humans are somewhat futile, we judge others without truly knowing, caring or trying to understand the root of another person’s trials and tribulations. We so readily offer our sympathies and so emptily offer our empathy. It is this reason that I believe rehabilitation is so important and should be nourished more within our current political system. If we took away the hate and the bitterness, looked at the situation with fresh eyes and focused on rehabilitating prisoners in order for them to become mentally sound, we could be more like Norway.
Every time after I watch Shawshank, my mind usually ends up at the thought ‘how can we treat people such a way?’ even if they are have committed a crime. I wonder, how can we better the system, make it more humane? Every now and again, I’ll hear in the news about how Scandinavian countries are like heaven on earth. Sure, the taxes are high but medicare is free, attending University is free, the graduation rates are among the highest in the world and subsequently the employment rates are some of the highest in the world. More importantly, successful rehabilitation rate for prisoners in Scandinavian countries is some of the highest in the world, with most offenders who come out of prison becoming a valued member of society, working as a technician, carpenter, etc. I read an article which detailed how and why Norway has the lowest recidivism rate, at 20%, in the world. I won’t repeat the entire article here, you can read it if you would like an in-depth look at the reasons behind the rehabilitation successfulness, it’s extremely insightful. In summary, it is because they treat their prisoners like humans, they attempt to understand them and help them. If emotions get in the way of logic, you can always look at facts to see where the truth lies. Norway focuses on rehabilitation rather than severe incarceration like many powerful states in the world do, yet the statistics speak for themselves, you cannot deny plain truth.
In saying all of this I understand that I’m a very lucky person, I’ve never been framed for a crime nor have I ever committed a crime meaning I dont really understand what going to prison would be like. I have never had anyone close to me go to prison. I have never had a crime inflicted upon me or someone I love, where which I could very possibly change my tune (yet I would hope sound judgement would keep my path true), I understand all of this. Yet in a world full of such hatred and ill-deeds, what good does pointing a finger and blaming someone do in the end, really. Maybe my naivity and optimism is too wishful, too naïve. But maybe innocence and hope are virtues we dont shine enough light on, maybe they are the back bone of change. Change must come, and it always starts with you and me.
Ah, Shawshank Redemption has done what every good film should do, create an irrevocable connection, question what we know to be ‘real’ or ‘true’ and evoke strong feelings and emotions about themes and ideas that may not even be the central ones. Bless that film.
