Nepali Wanderer

Ever wondered what you’d do if you could go back in time and relive some past experiences? Usually, when questions of this sort are asked, often with an “if you had a time machine” tag, it’s meant to probe your regrets (like Walter White rightly says to Saul in Better Call Saul). But we could actually use that opportunity to relive some of our first-time experiences. The thrill, the excitement, and the novelty of those first-time moments are irreplaceable, whether it’s a new place, a new food, or an unforgettable movie.

My experience of watching Shawshank Redemption for the first time was one of those unforgettable moments. Apart from the first-time thrill, I was fortunate to have two more elements that heightened my experience. The first was minimal expectation. (I’ll reveal the second thing below.) I hadn’t met anyone who had watched this movie, so I didn’t have any second-hand reviews. And of course, I had no idea that IMDB existed back then, so I was blissfully unaware of its number 1 IMDB ranking.

Back in those days, watching movies meant renting or buying cheap DVDs. The daily mission was to save money to make those 20-25 rupees. We in Kathmandu would go to a place called Mahabouddha for that. I remember stumbling upon this one while shuffling through the lists of discs. Something struck me when I saw the poster; maybe I had seen it before in a newspaper. So, I decided to try my luck with it.

Just as they stress about set and setting to enjoy the experience of psychedelics, I believe it’s the same for most of our activities. The mood you’re in and the environment around you play a massive role in how you feel about anything. I had ample time that day with no task at hand (which meant only studying back then), so I could watch the movie in a relaxed state. Right from the start, I could feel the connection. The opening of Shawshank prison, the background music, the setting, and of course, that storytelling by perhaps the greatest storyteller of all.

But soon, something curtailed my excitement a little. The Windows Media Player showed just one hour (one hour and twelve minutes or so) of runtime. So, I thought it was a documentary-style movie, maybe with some message at the end. But I was in a good movie mode, so I immersed myself in the small scenes, savoring every moment. And there were plenty in that first hour. Just to pick one, that rooftop beer scene with happy faces and that smile. But as the movie approached what I thought was its end, so did the story. About the old man having to leave his home that was prison. So, I thought it was the end, the poignant “Brooks was here” scene. I wished the movie wasn’t this short, and yet I was happy for having watched something special.

Then, my second stroke of luck with the movie happened. The media player restarted into the second half (something to do with the DVD, I guess). “An entire half to go.” I can’t explain in words the excitement when I realized this. The entire second half was bonus minutes for me. Then that escape. That redemption scene. And the ending. By the time Morgan Freeman read those famous lines from the letter, I was convinced of one thing: This was the best movie experience I had ever had.

Only a year or so later, my cousin told me about its IMDB status, after I innocently (and ignorantly) recommended this unknown gem to him. I’ve watched it many times since then, and it remains as amazing as ever. But that first-time feeling is unparalleled. I have already stressed that it’s my favourite movie ever. The only higher compliment I can give is this: I do not know my clear-cut second favourite. (I can count at least four and can’t decide on one.)