DIRECTOR'S CUT: Therapist Reacts to The Shawshank Redemption
How do you keep moving forward when you feel stuck? Why is hope sometimes dangerous?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright react to one of the best movies of all time, The Shawshank Redemption. They talk about how hope can be both dangerous and powerful as they follow Andy’s hope-filled journey in the prison system. They discuss institutionalization in prison and how people can be institutionalized in their own mental prisons. Jonathan emphasizes the importances of growth and testing your comfort zone. Alan hates narration but explains why it works in this movie… spoiler alert: Morgan Freeman.
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Comments (20)
Oh my gosh I needed this, I’ve been trying to explain to my newlywed husband how I function differently than he does and how hard things are day to day for me with VERY HIGH ADHD. More things about ADHD please, I need the guidance🙏
I'm surprised neither of you mentioned that this is a Stephen King story, lots of the dialogue is ripped straight out of the novella, especially the narration.
My 'subjective reality' is that Andy didn't have hope... he had a plan (much more useful IMO).
Planning in a way is hoping. People who lack hope don't plan ;)
I actually bought Man's Search for Meaning because Jono recommended it so often (also, as a German myself, I see it as my duty to learn as much about that time as I can, especially from the survivors' perspectives). This episode was truly beautiful. It also recommended me a lot of Shinedown's song "Hope" (to anyone who doesn't know it: I'd highly recommend checking it out—the entire Planet Zero album, actually). One line says "Hope's not a four letter word" which I am certain means that hope is so much more than that, so much more than what four simple letters can bring across. Thank you so much for this episode!
Alan's comment about feeling like a failure for not accomplishing what he thought he should.. Hit. Freaking. Home. I've felt that way for yeeeears in so many different aspects of my life - work, romance, housing, finances, my fitness, my freaking car, and so on and so on. TBH I still feel this way about a lot of aspects of my life but I've been trying to develop a mindset of 1) progress not perfection and 2) accepting myself as I am right now.
I don't have anything to add, just... That part where Alan is going "Change is inevitable; you're either always improving or always regressing?" That would've been a good place to drop a "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Shawshank hits on so many levels and every single actor was on 100. i wouldn't mind at all if you did a whole series on Stephen King adaptations. this, The Green Mile and Misery are my favs.
I used to sing that song that Andy played over the loudspeakers. In its own way, the duet can be about hope as well.
I would really love to see an episode of Finding Nemo. I would love to see your guy views on how Marlin is parenting Nemo.
That's next week's episode! 🤫
I need them to do Green Mile at some point!
Your discussion reminds me of what Peeta says in the first Hunger Games just before going in. He says he just doesn't want them to change who he is, that staying true to yourself despite circumstances. Not becoming institutionalized - accepting a mindless part in someone else's system.
Mind bogging that one Stephen King book gave us this, "Apt Pupil," and "Stand By Me."
I always wish these were longer, because they are all so good. Allan's last remarks on hope is something that I am working through right now. It is validating that I'm not the only one. Also, if I wanted to suggest a movie, would it be best to email or direct message?
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Thank you for sharing this video.. 💕.. great movie, enjoyable break down.. I think choosing what to place hope into is important .. this was a timely discussion. I hope that you and your families are all doing well.
*laughs* 🤣 We love you too Allen. 🫶 I hope you can feel that love. 😆 Definitely a timely one guys. 😄 After another weekend deep dive into knowing myself and where I get my dysfunctions from, seeing this and it's message about growth and hope is a reassurance I didn't quite know I needed to hear. Andy strove for the life he wanted, and saw himself living. And did what it took to get there, including keeping his hope and sense of self alive. He kept his integrity too. This was just the kind of person he was. He confronted his reality, and sought solutions in unlikely places, in unlikely ways. Reminds me a lot of the book I'm reading by Dr. Henry Cloud, "Integrity: the courage to meet the demands of reality".
A few weeks ago, I was at the Ohio State Reformatory where "the Shawshank Redemption" was filmed. I have always loved this film, one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story
Such a wonderful episode! Was about to get super emotional when it got to Brooks. 😅