In the heat of the night

I saw In the Heat of the Night on Sunday. A story about a very small town in Illinois, where nothing much really happens, which is stirred up by death of a businessman. Police arrest a African American man, Virgil Tibbs as a suspect (but they are completely sure he is their guy) from the train station, without any preliminary questioning.

To the dismay of Sparta police, Tibbs turns out to be a top honcho from Philadelphia Homicide team. He is furious with the Sparta Police for the racial treatment given to him, but on insistence for his boss, he agrees to assist the police in solving this mystery. Thus starts the mystery starts unraveling about who killed the businessman who promised some sort of prosperity to this sleepy town.

The movie has a strong theme of racism woven with the mystery. How people become uncooperative when a black police officer is questioning them. Even the other white officers, who understand and respect his expertise, do not want to look beyond his skin color. How it is difficult to look beyond your sense rightness.

Watch this movie to see a side of American society we are not most familiar with, though we should be able to understand it very well. What with the regular prejudice and separation in our society we see in India. May be an outsiders perspective will make us realize how wrong we are, when we try to look down upon someone else, because of some medieval notion we have.

It is a guys movie, men are sure to like it, and would find Tibbs to be quite inspiring character. With no fear in heart, and complete confidence his capabilities. Bill Gillespie, a very experienced police officer with years of services, finds himself with bruised ego in the beginning, but by the end of the story, earns respect from Tibbs as well as accepts that Tibbs is better than himself.

So if you are in mood for some good mystery and a dose in history get your hands on the movie. I guarantee you will enjoy this movie.