Watch Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird

Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird is a 2010 documentary film directed by Mary McDonagh Murphy. The film primarily revolves around the literary masterpiece To Kill a Mockingbird and its reclusive author, Harper Lee. The documentary tells the story of how Lee, a small-town girl from Alabama, came to create one of the most enduring novels of the twentieth century. Hey, Boo features interviews with a host of famous authors, journalists, and scholars who offer insight into the making of To Kill a Mockingbird and the life of Harper Lee. The film also includes footage of Lee's hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, where much of the novel is set, as well as archival footage of Lee and her close friend, Truman Capote. The film begins by exploring Lee's childhood in Monroeville, where she grew up alongside Capote. We learn about Lee's relationship with her father, a prominent lawyer who served as a model for the character of Atticus Finch, and about her love of books and writing. The documentary then moves on to the creation of To Kill a Mockingbird, providing insight into Lee's writing process and the inspiration behind her characters. We see interviews with Mary Badham, the actress who played Scout in the film adaptation of the novel, who discusses her experiences working with Lee and the impact that the story had on her life. Throughout the film, interviews with scholars and authors, including Tom Brokaw and Richard Russo, provide context and analysis on the significance of To Kill a Mockingbird and Harper Lee's contribution to American literature. The film explores the themes of race, justice, and the loss of innocence that are at the heart of the story, and documents the impact that the novel had on American culture in the 1960s and beyond. In addition to exploring the creation of the novel, Hey, Boo also delves into the controversy that surrounded its publication. In particular, the film examines the role that Truman Capote played in the writing of the book, and the enduring mystery surrounding Lee's decision to not publish another novel after the enormous success of her first. Overall, Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird is a rich and insightful documentary that sheds light on one of the most beloved and influential novels of the twentieth century. The film captures the essence of Lee's writing, and offers a poignant insight into the life of a remarkable author who shunned the limelight in favor of a quiet, solitary existence.