Just saw The Help. See it! Black and White; Life in the 60's. I am so glad I did not live through that time. It was a time of violence but a time of change. The change part was good and deservedly so. I am no pollyanna; time has made me a bit more real and sour perhaps, but fair is fair, the 60's weren't fair.
before I proceed, I state this fact: a well made movie, with good writing and a great story idea (based on a book) makes for conversation and brings forth from me something to say. I have to state this.
The Help is about upper middle class life for Caucasian Southerns that had maids and gardeners, in a tradition, a college graduate young woman who grew up with a nanny, and the African-American domestic help that worked for the former. the college grad daughter wants to interview "the help" women that worked in the homes of more affluent women and families. The idea is that no one had considered what Life was like for the black women that sacrificed so much during those imbalanced times. Trust is an issue. But, courage and faith play a role in doing the Right thing; stories must be told, and they were. Experience and age, just living life is the fodder for story telling. The women that worked in the homes in this movie had stories to tell, from their perspective of Life and how unfair or wonderful their experiences were. The college graduate works with the two of the principal characters; two women that worked in southern homes, to write a book based on their recollections and those of other black women.
A movie that addresses racism from the perspective of both sides allows for a truer tale. I have not read the book this is based on, but I do encourage you to go see the movie; rent it from the Red Box , get it on Netflix. This may win the Oscar. But beyond a shiny award, The Help has the potential to educate, and help us heal; to work towards more equality, tolerance, compassion, and understanding.
Go see The Help
