To Kill a Mockingbird

ATTICUS WAS REAL NICE. “Most people are, Scout. When you finally see them.” —Atticus Finch  Finally!! Watching this after years of reading the novel felt like revisiting a quiet memory of the past. Atticus Finch has always been one of my favourite characters in literature. I wouldn't say I love the film overwhelmingly considering most of my memory about the book has faded, but I honour it enough that the things that did stay with me when I first read it were all vividly captured in the film. Gregory Peck’s portrayal is everything I hoped. I love how the screenplay maximises the novel’s symbolic and emotional highlights while preserving its moral essence. The writers truly honoured Harper Lee. People often point out how the film tackles racism, injustice, poverty, and how power moves silently but strongly through all of it. Atticus Finch, a lawyer simply doing his job; is bound by the oath of his profession. That’s one way to see him. BUT if you get through the heart of the story, in the courtroom; it is not only his legal intellect that shines, but his deep humanity. His words weren't grand, it was there to communicate with clarity. His courageous act to shift perspectives even when the outcome is already written. That’s where his dignity lies. And I think that’s what makes him truly, a remarkable character. If you ever plan on watching it, I hope you sit through it fully.  Get to know Jem, Scout, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley! And yes, you’d wish to know more about Calpurnia.  AND finally, try to see what Atticus saw. A man trying to do right by others…