What makes this movie so special - apart from its touching upon a taboo of the time - is the fact that we witness the story’s evolution through the eyes of children. The threats, the injustice, the pain, the fears, the hopes - everything takes on new proportions when seen through the eyes of Scout and Jem. It highly enhances the movie’s impact and, while dealing with a melodramatic subject, it never feels clichéd at all. The racial prejudices and the blatant stupidity that come with the times are greatly amplified by the children’s natural impartiality and innocence. This view also introduces some interesting themes on the side, such as the haunted house next door and the old lady that supposedly eats children, that could only be sparked by the imagination of a child.