This summer, I decided to see The Help with my family as a divergence on a slow day. I can say that it has become my favorite movie of 2011 because it is a movie with depth, yet still an enjoyable tale with many layers. The Help is an adaptation of the 2009 book of the same name by Kathryn Stockett.
For film buffs, the storytelling is quite layered with many smaller stories set behind the main story about the young heroine, Skeeter Phelan, writing about the stories of the black women that performed domestic work for white families during the early 1960’s. It balances telling her story of advancing her career, handling family issues, her childhood friends and love life, all while writing these stories.
I enjoyed the movie because of the representation of the view of the black women during the Civil Rights Movement in the town of Jackson, Mississippi. These women were humanized, shown in their own right as strong and determined women to help improve their family’s future while making the white families they serve function. The women faced societal problems such as having to give up their seats on the buses to whites and getting harassed by police. Some of the maids faced issues such as trying to seek better education for their children, the death of children and domestic abuse, amongst other things. One of the most touching relationships in the movie develops between Minny Jackson and Celia Foote. Both were ostracized by the elite community in Jackson. Minny is ostracized for being a maid who was difficult and would not take direction well. Celia is ostracized for being a housewife who was incapable of cooking and cleaning on top of her inability to have children. The two women develop a bond as they both struggle with their daily lives together.
I am glad to say that I was willing to give this movie a chance. Usually, these stories are sappy and perfect, but this has such a “mixed blessing” ending. This story was well told and well acted. In all, a high quality production that should garner major award attention.
It is enjoyable that there are movies that show how hard work, empathy, and perseverance are values that are praised when they are lacking in modern society at times.