If you haven’t seen the movie based on the best-selling book by Kathryn Stockett, hurry to your local theatre before it’s gone from the big screen. It’s a movie you don’t want to miss, for many reasons.
The Help draws you in from the first scene.
This was hands-down one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. I went with my daughter and my son’s girlfriend and we absolutely loved it. The storyline drew us in and didn’t let go. Emma Stone (Skeeter), Viola Davis (Aibileen), Octavia Spencer (Minny), Bryce Dallas Howard (Hilly) and Jessica Chastain (Celia) did an amazing job.
Kathryn Stockett’s story embodies the power of perseverance.
In an earlier post, I mentioned that it was Kathryn Stockett’s dogged determination that turned her dream not only into a published book, but into a best-selling book. Now The Help has gone on to become a major motion picture. Oh, what we would have missed if Ms. Stockett had given up after the first batch of rejections, or the second, or even, rejection number 60.
The Help sparks great discussions.
The movie’s tagline says, “Change begins with a whisper.” Certainly, the movie’s characters changed, but it sparked change in our minds, too. Afterwards, we discussed things like:
- How would we have responded if we’d been raised in that time period?
- Do we have the courage to stand up for what’s right—even when the cost is high?
- Are we paying attention, to make sure we don’t miss our cue to speak up?
- How has the world changed—for the better and for the worse—since those days?
- How has technology impacted our world?
The Help encourages writing that matters.
There were some uncomfortable scenes in the movie. The stereotypes and attitudes of the characters made me squirm—and often made me angry. It would have been easier to water down those scenes to make them more palatable, but Ms. Stockett didn’t. And the screenwriters didn’t either. That takes courage.
When I sit down at my keyboard to work on my story-in-progress, I will be thinking about The Help. About determination. And about having the courage to speak up for what’s right.
Have you seen The Help? What did you think of it?
I haven’t yet sent he movie but I did read the book. I thought it was brilliant in its social commentary and in the complexity of the characters. Yet through all the seriousness the author wove great moments of humor. I can’t wait to see the movie!
I haven’t read the book yet. That’s next. But the movie is not to be missed. I’d love to hear what you think after you’ve seen the movie. Would be fun to compare the two.
My husband and I went to see the movie the day it opened. Allow me to preface what I’m going to say with the fact that my husband is black and grew up during the Jim Crow/segregation era. His mother was a domestic for rich people. As a teenager, my husband worked as a stock boy in a store on Main Street and could not use the restroom or drink from the fountain. During his lunch break, he would run for home to use the bathroom (some days, he’d run faster than others, if you catch my drift). I saw the movie through white eyes. He saw it through the eyes of experience. He’d lived much of what was in the movie. At several places, I squirmed, almost ashamed of being white. He cried. I saw women treated badly because of the color of their skin. He saw his beloved Mother–a woman who worked 2 jobs so both of her sons could go to college. She was determined they’d be called MR. Davis, not “boy.” Calvin’s brother has a PhD in Statistics from Harvard. Calvin has a Masters in American Literature and is a published author. Both credit their strong, soft-spoken mother. Yes, we loved the movie–perhaps for different reasons.
Vonnie, I got all choked up reading your story. Thank you so much for sharing it! I am so glad your husband’s mother got to see her dreams for her sons realized!! She sounds like a wonderful woman. And both Mr. Davis’ sound like wonderful men.
This book and movie are on my list. From the moment I saw the previews before it was released I knew it would be a movie that had to be seen.
Thanks for posting this blog. It’s just one more confirmation. And I also want to comment on the posting by Vonnie. WOW…that is an incredible story and I so understand what you mean about squirming in your seat. Your husband’s mother sounds like a gem.
Christine, I think there was lots of squirming going on in the seats, even though my mother worked as Help, instead of hiring any of her own. It’s a powerful movie. Hurry, before it’s gone from theatres!
I read the book and saw the movie. Both were wonderful. I grew up during this era in Texas. I was a little too young to recognize the prejudice for what it was. Since my mother wasn’t part of the social set like the ladies in the book or have the money for full time help, I didn’t see behaviors like those exhibited in the movie. When My mother went to work, we did have a colored lady come in to take care of us. We loved her like family. But, as I grew older, I do remember their sterotypical attitudes as being negative in many respects. Because my attitude was different, it was embarrassing at times. We’ve come a long way, but still have far to go–in more ways than one.
Amen, Linda. We’ve certainly made progress, but there is more still to do! Thanks so much for sharing your own story of growing up in that era!
It amazes me that Hollywood thought this would be one of the summers ‘Little Movies’. But I guess we’re lucky they didn’t know, or we probably would have seen ‘The Help – 3D’.
Ruth, I hadn’t heard that, but it makes me laugh. I agree–glad they didn’t know. The Help is wonderful!