1. The Shawshank Redemption
But although Truman may have many disadvantages in his life, there are many people with more. The Shawshank Redemption is a movie that is set completely within an unremarkable reality, where nothing can save you, there is nowhere to go, and where the protagonist is gradually hammered away to almost nothing, but nevertheless constantly develops his intelligence to survive. His intelligence keeps him going. The story follows protagonist Andy Dufresne on a journey through the justice system as he faces accusations from prosecutors, assault from fellow prisoners, and true imprisonment at the hands of corrupt prison employees. But he is not as trapped as he seems. He takes in the world of Maines Shawshank State Prison like a math problem. He learns its rules and looks for possible solutions to its problems. This certainly applies on an immediate physical level when he is assaulted and uses the objects around him to defend himself rather than be overwhelmed by the situation. But he also uses his abilities in accounting to do the guards taxes, gaining their trust in a way that doesnt subvert their perceptions of authority. He improves the prisons library through letters to the state of Maine, which not only keeps him productive but helps the prisoners around him prepare for more productive lives. Even when good will fails him completely and you think its all over for Andy, he is still as always ready to circumvent despair, because he is always thinking ahead to all possible developments. It is one of the most inspiring moments in film history. If this message isnt wonderful, I dont know what is. How many people out there are suppressed or oppressed through institutional corruptions in imagination, such as lawyers stories, media grandstanding, and political lies? Many. This is one of the most valuable messages of all. But many movies remind us of imagination in many different ways. These were only 10. What movies remind you?