Many people like to compare this film with "The Shawshank", but usually they devalue one to praise the other. In my opinion, such a comparison is unnecessary. Although "The Hole" and "Xiao" are both about escape from prison, although the dramas are equally strong, the focus of the two is obviously different.
"Xiao" throws you a corrupt and dark extreme environment, and a group of people who seem to be lifeless without a trace of expectations, and then throws you an Andy, bringing a soul that can't be locked, and bringing hope. This is a story about The theme of redemption is a bit of a preaching,
and "The Hole" obviously focuses more on the details of the escape itself. Through the large-scale smashing of walls and digging holes, there is no soundtrack, and there is not much embellishment of drama. Some are just deliberately enlarged by the director. The noise brings a strong sense of presence to the audience. Ben believes that the film's realism is no less than Roble Bresson's Prison Break. This film does not seem to have a climax, but in the eyes of this gentleman, the climax is ready to come out in the noise of chiseling and hammering.
And the end of both. "Xiao" is undoubtedly a typical Hollywood-style happy ending, the conspiracy is exposed, and the theme of redemption is successfully reflected in reality; while "Hole" ended in a dark, joking and cruel ending in a noisy audit.
PS In Benjun's eyes, these are two completely different movies, but they are both excellent.
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