What we flagged
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Our take
A wrongly convicted banker survives decades inside a corrupt prison through friendship, patience and quiet defiance. Guard and inmate beatings, frequent strong swearing, rape threats and two suicides sit beside a warm hope-and-loyalty story. Rear shower nudity and a kiss that stops short of sex also appear. Fine with a parent from 16. Younger teens who struggle with sexual threat or suicide should wait.
Uplifting themes
Hope, loyalty and quiet integrity are the emotional centre of the film The lead stays kind and patient under pressure, and friendship is treated as strength It opens a conversation about prisons, corruption and second chances
Story (may spoil tone)
Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Guards and inmates beat men hard, and shootings draw blood later in the…
Guards and inmates beat men hard, and shootings draw blood later in the story
Language Lots of strong swearing, mostly the f-word, plus motherf-word and the s…
Lots of strong swearing, mostly the f-word, plus motherf-word and the s-word
Sex / nudity Rear shower nudity, a passionate kiss and some sex talk
Rear shower nudity, a passionate kiss and some sex talk
Drugs / alcohol Beer on a work break, plus whisky and cigarette trading in prison life
Beer on a work break, plus whisky and cigarette trading in prison life
Frightening Corrupt prison dread, sudden beatings and sexual threat keep a heavy to…
Corrupt prison dread, sudden beatings and sexual threat keep a heavy tone
Self-harm / suicide Two suicides appear, one by hanging and one by gunshot heard after the…
Two suicides appear, one by hanging and one by gunshot heard after the act
Sexual violence A man is held down and threatened with rape more than once. The assault…
A man is held down and threatened with rape more than once. The assaults are not fully shown
Bullying / discrimination Prison hierarchy, cruel guards and targeted harassment of weaker inmate…
Prison hierarchy, cruel guards and targeted harassment of weaker inmates run through the story
Gore / death / weapons Blood spurts from a shooting, and beatings leave clear injury
Blood spurts from a shooting, and beatings leave clear injury
Mental health Despair, institutionalisation and fear of the outside world weigh on ol…
Despair, institutionalisation and fear of the outside world weigh on older prisoners
Grief / bereavement Loss of freedom, friends and years of life hangs over the friendships i…
Loss of freedom, friends and years of life hangs over the friendships inside
Flashing lights We do not have enough information about flashing lights for this versio…
We do not have enough information about flashing lights for this version to confidently confirm.
Talk after watching
- What does hope look like when the system around you is unfair?
- How do friendship and small kindnesses change someone living under harsh rules?
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The Shawshank Redemption
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