Book/Movie Review: The Shawshank Redemption

When I do marketing seminars all over the world, one of my icebreaker questions is, “What is your favorite movie?” The number one answer to that question is “The Shawshank Redemption,” which, given the diversity of my audience, says a great deal about the qualities of this movie.

“The Shawshank Redemption” is a novella by Stephen King, published in 1982 as part of the collection “Different Seasons.” The story is set in the fictional Shawshank State Penitentiary in Maine and tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a former banker who is serving two life sentences for the murder of his wife and her lover. Despite claiming his innocence, Andy is found guilty and sent to prison.

The story is narrated by Red, a long-time inmate at Shawshank who befriends Andy. The two men strike up an unlikely friendship, with Red serving as Andy’s go-to guy for cigarettes, posters, and other contraband. Over time, Andy reveals his love of literature and his talent for financial planning. He helps the warden, Samuel Norton, to launder money and even sets up a prison library.