The attraction of seeing a film of a particular genre for example prison, would be that the audience knows what they want from the film, has an expectation and has watched enough of that particular genre to know that they like the prison genre. There are many genres that are influenced by others and some that are hybrid, which means that two genres are combined. The Magdalene Sisters and The Shawshank Repedemption are both films that are prison genres that have a running theme of religion throughout. Another example of a hybrid genre in relation to film would be Romantic Comedies. Romantic films and Comedy films are both separate genres but are fused and is now a very popular genre.
Shawshank Redemption and The Magdalene Sisters are produced to attract the older adult or mature aged teenager because of their content. The two films focus on themes of the struggle for freedom, friendship and the trials and tribulations of being in prison or prison-like environment.
The similarities between The Magdalene sisters is that they both show how there are people in a higher position than them that can control what they do. For example, chores. When the girls are made to do domestic chores all day, such as washing laundry and if they didn’t do so, there would be a punishment. In The Shawshank, Andy is forced to take part in a money laundering operation for the guards.
Throughout the movie”Shawshank” you see the change in the inmates behaviour in the way they start to respect each other and learn that the nature of freedom comes from within. I believe that Andy brought this influence to his fellow prisoners as he is shown as a figure of a relgious inspiration due to him being an innocent man prisoned for a crime he did not commit. He also explains that music is important and that it comes from within and that is the one thing that the guards cannot take away from him. When he rebels on the rules and plays music in the corrupt wardens office, he is put in infirmary for two weeks. He explained that he did not mind because he had the music inside of him.
The Shawshank Redemption is a male dominated film that shows a level of sympathy towards the innocent banker Andy Dufrense who is jailed for the murder of his wife and her paramour. He insists on his innocence but is humoured by Red (Morgan Freeman) and the other inmates. The Magdalene Sisters is female orientated film based on religion and control from the nunnery. The story of four ‘fallen women’ who are sent to a nunnery by their families for what they considered sinful actions. In both films there is a depiction of either metaphorical or literal imprisonment.The two films attempt to express the film in a way to show that “fear can hold you prisoner” and that hope can set you free and both show innocent people being imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.
The Shawshank begins in the 1940’s and portrays what life was like in prison for inmates and allows an opportunity for the viewer to understand the vast contrast between the treatment of prisoners then and now. The conduct toward inmates is shown when they receive brutality at the hands of the guards for the smallest of things, for instance when inmates show moments of emotional weakness. This provides an undertone of the movie being male orientated as men are typically stereotyped as being strong and fearless; without these characteristics you were not considered a ‘real man’ in that period.
The Magdalene Sisters is set in the 1940’s in post-colonial Ireland. It depicts the treatment of ‘fallen women’ in this period in the Magdalene asylums and how they did not have some of their basic human rights. Sister Bridget (Geraldene McEwan) who was in control of the nunnery treated the girls inhumanely and they would be ‘disciplined’ by being beaten. Another shocking punishment was when Sister Bridget have their hair for minor rule they had broken.
There are discernible similarities between the two films as they are both religion orientated. There is no sympathy towards the prisoners in either films as they both have people who are in a position of power abusing that power and dominating and controlling everything they do.
In the Shawshank prison, there are many corrupted guards but one in particular stands out the most. The first night Andy was sentenced to prison, one man labelled as “Fat Ass” is verbally abused by other inmates shouting names at him for a reaction, when he reacts he breaks down in tears crying for his mother. The brutal guard shows no sympathy towards him and proceeds to beat him mercilessly with his baton so severely that he bleeds to death from head injuries. The morning after his death, the inmates discuss what happened in the canteen while eating breakfast as if it was normal. Andy looks shocked and quite emotional about this situation, he then asks “did anyone know his name?”, another inmate who displays an impassive look on his face responds with “why does it matter, he’s dead”.
A form of a friendship bond that grows throughout the film between specifically Red and Andy is the main theme of the movie. You see Red and Andy’s friendship grow from the start of the movie and watch how it progresses from the day they first meet. As Red is open minded he sees the good in Andy from the very beginning which you hear in the voice over, where as the other inmates had a negative judgment of him. You see them grow closer together and see the similarities between the two of them. Red always kept an eye on Andy which showed he genuinely cared for him. For instance, when Andy gets put into the infirmary, Red suggests they should give him a good welcome back. The other inmates also grew to respect Andy and agree on giving him a warming welcoming back while they eat their breakfast in the canteen. This shows that even criminals can be compassionate and empathise towards each other.
The usage of voiceovers and narration from Red and Andy occurs throughout The Shawshank Redepmtion which enables the viewers an inside experience of how the characters feel about their situation, which makes you feel sympathy and emotion towards the character. Although voiceovers and narration is not used within The Magdalene Sister the viewer still has a deep understanding of how the women are feeling by giving insights to their emotions and how they react to similar and contrasting situations. This allows the viewer to get to know each character.
When Red is finally released from prison and remembers Andy telling him to go to a specific area in a hay field where he proposed and made love to his wife for the first time, which made this scene even more touching. Andy said he had something there hidden for him. Red goes to find some money and a letter. When Red reads the letter, it is a voiceover of Andy’s voice. This line of what Red said was very touching and it shows you how much Andy really did care for Red as a friend and never forgot about him, which shows a sign of real friendship. “Remember, Red. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping this letter finds you well. Your friend. Andy.” Andy also gave the address of where he was hoping Red would come to find him and find peace to live happily.
Voice-overs can give the viewer more of an understanding point of view as it is used throughout the whole movie, it gives you information you don’t need to see to understand. It is helpful and shows you the characters inner thoughts and the way they think, which is hard to just tell by watching. It is almost like you hear there thoughts aloud, which really helps you get to know the character.
The Magdalene Sisters doesn’t have the use of voice overs in the film but you still have a clear understanding of the main characters emotions (Bernadette, Margaret, Rose and Crispina). Friendship is a main part of this film as you see the girls emotions relate to each others as they’re all going through the same thing. When Bernadette has the opportunity to escape, she doesn’t take the chance due to fear and not feeling like a good, strong enough person.
The two films are both similar as they are both about people who are going through similar situation with people in a higher position than them being in control of what they do and how they do it. Although the Magdalene sisters is a female orientated film and the Shawshank is male orientated, you still see similar effects on them. Friendship plays a big part in both films as that is the only thing they rely on for a source of happiness. Throughout both films you see the change in behaviour and that they both learn than the nature of freedom comes from within.
Perrie Kurban 