1. Brooks Hangs Himself - The Shawshank Redemption
The struggle to readjust to the outside world after being incarcerated for a number of years is a common theme in films that deal with the prison system. But it's rarely shown in such a poignant and ultimately tragic light as it is in The Shawshank Redemption. Brooks was a sweet old man, long rehabilitated for whatever crime he committed as a youth, and perfectly willing to spend the rest of his days behind bars tending to his beloved pet bird. But he is granted parole, and has no clue what to do with himself. He has never lived in this world, with cars and television and so much movement, and it's been decades since he's had the freedom to do as he pleased. Brooks is overwhelmed by it, and even tries to commit another crime so that they'll send him back to jail, the only home he's known for nearly fifty years. Eventually, the aching loneliness and a sense of being out of place was too much from Brooks, and he hanged himself in his tiny apartment after carving "Brooks was here" into a beam of wood.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
