Of all Stephen King's screen adaptations this is my favorite. A great movie that didn't receive more awards because it had the misfortune to compete against Furrest Gump.
That spiritual journey that you mention, the redemption of the protagonists, the script, the ending and the whole emotional theme are some of my favorite aspects of the story.
Greetings and thanks for sharing.
RE: (Movie Review) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)