Stars: Christopher Eccleston, Kate Winslet, Rachel Griffiths, Liam Cunningham, June Whitfield, James Nesbitt, Mark Lambert

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Summary: A period drama based on the Thomas Hardy novel which follows the life of Jude Fawley, a young man who dreams of going to Christminster University. A failed marriage delays his studies, but he moves to Christminster and becomes a stonemason; studying in his spare time. One day he decides to visit his cousin Sue and his life is changed forever...

In this austere adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1895 novel JUDE THE OBSCURE, an intelligent young British man falls prey to romance, oppressive social conventions, and unspeakable tragedy in his unsanctioned relationship with his cousin. JUDE is a tragic romance, well acted by Kate Winslet (TITANIC), Rachel Griffiths (HILARY AND JACKIE), and Christopher Eccleston (ELIZABETH) and wonderfully directed by Michael Winterbottom (WELCOME TO SARAJEVO).

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When The Shawshank Redemptionwas released in 1994, some critics complained that this popular prison drama was too long to sustain its plot. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace.

Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who is sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we soon realise his claims of innocence are credible. We also realise that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemptionbuilds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film (which movie lovers count among their all-time favourites) that signalled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker.

On the DVD:The Shawshank Redemptionlimited-edition release contains the complete 48-minute documentary "Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature", including interviews with all the principal cast and crew; plus more interview material and the theatrical trailer. --Jeff Shannon

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical, Scene Selection, Interactive Menus
Year:	1996
Release Date:	January 1, 2001
Runtime:	117 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	902 046 2
Keywords:	Classic, Book, General, Jude, Drama, Period, Based
Genre:	Drama