Favorite Movie of 2011: The Help

The Help is a realistic portrayal of “colored” servants in the south during the 1950’s. It gives an accurate representation of the relationship between the white families and their colored help. There was another relationship that was blossoming; a relationship that would shock the foundation of southern traditions. A bond of friendship and mutual respect was forming and growing, between the colored female servants and Skeeter.

This movie touched my heart and my mind; it evoked contrasting emotions all at the same time. Intellectually I was appalled by the bias that existed between the races; as well as the partiality shown to Skeeter, by members of the white community. They have a low level of tolerance for anyone, such as Skeeter; she dared challenge the established mores of Mississippi, during the 1960’s. I cheered at the triumph of the human spirit as the truth was being revealed through Skeeter’s novel.

I enjoy movies that are based on actual events; there is an unmistakable honesty in the storyline. As a viewer, you feel compelled to watch breathless for the next series of events to unfold.

The Help brought back so many memories of my own childhood. My grandparents lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Lulabell was the name of their “colored” help; I just adored her. I would follow her around, begging her to let me help her with her household duties. She never tired of answering my myriad of questions. Lulabel never became agitated with me or my desire to go everywhere with her. The separation between the races made me sad; I just couldn’t understand why people treated them differently.

These women were invaluable and irreplaceable assets in these families, but they were regarded as irrelevant and invisible objects.

I applaud the movie and the actors for unveiling this poignant truth: The “colored” help were such an integral part of these white families. They went beyond what was expected of them and they asked only for the respect and appreciation that was due them.

The Help is my favorite movie for 2011.

Mary Swingler, “A Time Remembered,” Yahoo Contributor Network


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