See the Film

One of the great gifts to modern culture in the 20th century was Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, To Kill A Mockingbird. I recently saw the 1962 film starring Gregory Peck and a young Robert Duval. Many of you know the story; you read the book in junior high school. Do yourself a favor. Read it again. See the film.

Racially prejudiced, 1932 Alabama, plays the backdrop for a 6-year-old tomboy named Scout to tell her story. Maycomb, the small Alabaman town brilliantly described as “a tired and sleepy town,” is the home of Atticus Finch, widowed father of Scout. A principled man who is charged to defend in front of an all white jury, Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a bigoted white woman.

The writing is both beautiful and revolutionary. It is story telling at its most beautiful and highest point. Scenes take our now 21st century collective breath away at their poignancy and depth. They’ve become part of American culture.

"You never know someone," Atticus tells Scout, "until you step inside their skin and walk around a little."

“There's a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep 'em all away from you. That's never possible.” – Atticus Finch

But the scene that takes my breath away. The scene that stops my heart when I see it, is Atticus Finch’s leaving of the courtroom. The incredible emotion throughout the movie pours out in Tom Robinson’s examination on the stand, and our heart falls at the jury’s reading of an anticipated guilty verdict. As the white people joyfully file out of the courtroom, Finch stays behind. He sits silently as the crowd of black spectators watch with heartbroken intent. As he packs his things, and walks towards the door, the black audience relegated to the balcony, stands in admiration.

Rev. Sykes whispers to young Scout, “Scout. Scout…Stand up. Your father is passing.”

Stand up. Your father is passing.

Art is timeless.

Peace and justice are timeless.

Read it again.

See the film.