To kill a mocking bird

Just finished reading Harper Lee’s ‘To kill a mocking bird’. Published in 1960s, a Pulitzer Prize winning piece of literature is a story revolving round Finch family of Maycomb Country. Its a story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer in fifties, who takes up the case of Tom Robinson, a Negro.

I instantly fell in love with Atticus, who is not a ‘conventional’ hero. A doting father of Jem and Scout, a well read lawyer and above all a gem of human being, the character of Atticus will always remained ingrained in my mind and serve as an anchor in today’s muddled life. – I would love to meet ‘Atticus’ in real life 

The Two Popes 

Watched the movie 'The Two Popes' today. Its a story about journey of two men of faith and the friendship that blossomed between them. Largely in the form of dialogue between the two with different ideology. It makes us realise how we all are humans and can err. It points out that religion must adapt itself to times and address the changing context in order to keep itself relevant.

Its beautifully crafted and each frame keeps us glued. Most of the film is shot in all close up shots of Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins whose performance is simply flawless. Must watch for a serious audience.

American Beauty

Recently watched Sam Mendes 1999 film, 'American Beauty'. Each character in the film accurately reflects a slice of America - with its beauty and hope as well as its desolation, anger, sadness, loneliness, and frustration. Lester Burnham, an unsuccessful person in his professional and personal life both as husband and father, Jane, his teenage daughter who abhors her parents and is saving for breast implantation, Carolyn, his wife who has very superficial idea of success and happiness, Angela, Jane's friend who Lester began to fantasize symbolises an American teenage girl who need to fake about her sexual adventures to make her appear coool, Jane's boyfriend Ricky who appears to be psycho as the one who is excessively capturing everything in camera to capture its beauty and Rick's father Frank who is strict disciplinarian. Each character is brought to life and the motif of rose is used throughout intelligently. The movie truly depict hollowness as well as beauty in American life. Do watch.