Close, not exact

The Shawshank Redemption, but for corrupt institutions exposed

Nothing in the catalog nails this hook as hard as The Shawshank Redemption does, but the films below come honestly close.

The match
3 Idiots poster

3 Idiots

2009India★ 8subtitled

Rascal. Joker. Dreamer. Genius... You've never met a college student quite like "Rancho." From the moment he arrives at India's most prestigious university, Rancho's outlandish schemes turn the campus upside down—along with the lives of his two newfound best friends. Together, they make life miserable for "Virus," the school’s uptight and heartless dean. But when Rancho catches the eye of the dean's daughter, Virus sets his sights on flunking out the "3 idiots" once and for all.

If you want a second one
Radical poster

Radical

2023Mexico★ 8.3subtitled

In a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher tries an unorthodox new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential... and perhaps even their genius.