The film The Green Mile, directed by Frank Darabont, takes place in Louisiana's death row prison block in 1935.
The Green Mile is a film that delves into the dynamic between good and evil and the various characters who embody these forces. Narrated by the retired guard, Elderly Edgecomb (played by Dabbs Greer), through a prolonged flashback, the story transports viewers to 1935 in a penitentiary setting. The central figures include Paul Edgecomb, the main prison guard, Percy Wetmore, an unyielding and sadistic guard, and John Coffey, the enigmatic inmate on death row. Although not rooted in realism, The Green Mile is a sentimental movie that evokes strong emotions. It tugs at our emotions and leaves us contemplating if shedding tears was worth it.
Paul Edgecomb, married to Jan, is tasked with guarding prisoners and accompanying them to the electric chair
...on their execution day. Despite his responsibilities, he strives to treat the prisoners with dignity and create a peaceful environment. However, a bladder issue depicted in the movie establishes empathy from the audience towards his suffering. This condition not only challenges his reputation of strength and authority among his fellow guards and inmates but also impacts his sexual relationship with his wife.
John Coffey, a strong black man, is wrongfully convicted of murdering two young white girls. His conviction is solely based on being found holding the girls' bodies. Despite his immense size, Coffey has the innocence and simplicity of a child, yet he possesses the remarkable gift of healing through touch. He first heals Edgecomb's bladder problem and later astonishes everyone by curing the boss's wife of her inoperable brain tumor. Although the concept may see
unrealistic, Coffey's misunderstood nature and ultimate execution for refusing to proclaim his innocence deeply resonate with the audience. This film serves as both a sentimental story and a protest against capital punishment, evoking emotions as we witness an innocent person being unjustly punished.
The text highlights the unjust use of the electric chair as a form of punishment, particularly in the case of an innocent individual. It serves as a protest against capital punishment. While the real murderer escapes execution and avoids experiencing any pain for his crime, an innocent man, Coffey, is subjected to the excruciating process. The film's colors are desaturated yet true to life, capturing the natural hues with richness. Initially, brighter reds and greens add vitality to the scenes, but as the story progresses, deep browns and sandy tones depict an earlier period, creating a sense of melancholy. This effect is exemplified in the scene where the girls are found; the absence of grass and increased use of brown convey the weight of the past.
The execution scenes in the film were filled with brown tones to evoke sentiment and sadness. The film's composer, Thomas Newman, skillfully used music and instruments to create the desired effects for different scenes. For instance, a blues guitar serves as a background soundtrack when Wild Bill is brought in. The songs composed for the film are deeply emotional and are intended to tug at the audience's heartstrings. One particular song includes the line 'Put your troubles away,' which plays during Paul Edgecomb's moments of worry regarding John Coffey's innocence. This music sequence intensifies the emotions of the viewers as they watch the film.
The visit to the warden's
wife in the film includes a song that features the line "did you ever have a dream". This song evokes sentimentality and emotions for the audience. Each string and note played by John Coffey portrays his emotions and feelings. However, the music for the last ten minutes is deliberately designed to manipulate the audience and bring them to tears. Alongside the music, there are also natural sounds in the film, such as footsteps, conversations, and birds singing. Two significant objects in the film are a radio and an electric chair. The radio holds significance for Paul Edgecomb as he listens to sentimental songs that reflect his emotions.
The film highlights the protagonist's sentimentality and emotions, along with shedding light on the harshness of capital punishment. One instance portrays a prisoner being treated as a sadist's toy, while another involves Coffey's tragic demise resulting from injustice. Significantly, the malevolent Wild Bill manages to evade the electric chair despite being responsible for the murders Coffey was charged with. Collectively, these occurrences evoke strong disdain towards capital punishment. Consequently, this film serves as an emotional and staunch protest against the practice.
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