Mise-en-scene

Shawshank Redemption front cover

 The fact that Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are in the centre of the picture draws attention to the fact that they may be the main characters. Freeman’s facial expression shows a sense of hope Juxtaposed with Robbins, who shows a more determined expression, this could suggest that they both have different goals set for themselves. Their eye lines seem to be looking in the same direction which shows that they are looking for something or maybe they have found it. Their costumes are a greyish colour giving it an old fashioned look to it which suggests the time period of the movie as being possibly in the early 1900s. The types of clothes connote imprisonment as in prisons your choice of clothing is not up to you which also suggest the lack of freedom. The dashes in the picture is supposed to be rain but the key light is quite a bright orange which could signify hope and the chance of seeing the Earth in a new light. The bottom of the picture only shows the back of Tim Robbins whose arms are out stretched as if to embrace the rain and the light which is on his face but the back of him is dark, which could symbolise that he is putting the past behind him and moving forward to the light. This theory is supported by the side which shows his back being darker than the side that shows his front. This medium shot has him centre stage and makes it all about him and his story. The racial make up of the movie can show it to be mixed as Freeman is of ethnic minority while Robbins is of white background. This could show that freedom is attainable for all races.