Redemption Revisited: Doing Theology at Shawshank

This article examines recent scholarly attempts to revisit the Christian theme of redemption by making various uses of Frank Darabont’s 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption. I indicate that, while the appropriation of this film has generated much insightful theology, there has been an insufficient regard for the extent to which ‘redemption’ is a diverse and heterogeneous term which is not intrinsically transferable beyond the specific contours of the Christian faith. I suggest that a new way of doing theology through film is needed. As an alternative to hijacking the film for theological purposes, my premise is that the most judicious way of entering into conversation with the film is to pay particular attention to what actual audiences are saying about it, and from that point seeing what sort of theological encounter – if any – is able to be facilitated.