October is Black History Month and Harper Lee’s classic
novel To Kill a Mockingbird is often
celebrated at a pillar of Black History literature. It seems only apt, to then
for this week’s DVD review to write about the 1962 film adaptation by Robert
Mulligan.
Thankfully the film follows the storyline in the novel very
closely and the film takes place almost entirely in a court room. The film is
show through the eyes of Scout, the daughter of Lawyer Atticus Finch, who lives
in the American state of Alabama. Scout and her brother Jem develop a
fascination with their mysterious neighbour known as Boo Radley who lives a
life of solitude. They often find gifts in a nearby tree and spend their summer
afternoon’s spying on him from afar. The era in which the story takes place in
the era of the Great Depression and Harper Lee wrote it at the beginning of the
Civil Rights Movement. Up until which, Black people had a tremendously hard
time at being accepted by society. Atticus
is assigned the case of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white
girl. Atticus, believing that everyone should be treated equally takes on the
case and works hard at defending Tom Robinson.
Scout and Jem end up getting bullied at school for their father’s
decision and they soon become aware of the racism and evil in the people of
their town.
When the accused is ‘murdered’ during transportation to
prison, the father of the young girl who was raped attacks Scout on her way
home from a Halloween party at her school. Boo Radley, now a friend to young
Scout takes matters silently into his own hands, how far will he go to protect
the young girl and to help Atticus?
To Kill a Mockingbird is
a ground breaking representation of racism in the Southern states of America
during the late 1920’s/early 1930’s and is widely celebrated by all ethnicities
and backgrounds all over the world. Harper Lee has confessed that in palces the
story is semi-autobiographical having observed similar situations during her
childhood, growing up in Alabama. The film, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch
was very well received by critics upon it’s released and hailed as a
masterpiece, winning three Academy Awards and three Golden Globes. Gregory Peck
has often declared how lucky he was to be cast in such a defining role.
Borrow it today from the Information Store and immerse
yourself in an outstanding, gripping and heart-warming story. You could borrow
the book as well!
Further Reading in the Information Store:
To Kill a Mockingbird (DVD & Novel) - BOOK ZONE - 823.91 LEE
Independence & Equality by Elizabeth Cregan - BOOK ZONE - 323.4 CRE
Building the Future by Elizabeth Cregan - BOOK ZONE - 305.8 CRE
