The Color Purple

If you want a great feel-good story of human struggle and eventual triumph, then this is a good place to start, especially if you want more depth than the average popcorn movie...

“The Color Purple” was a novel written and released by Alice Walker in 1982. It follows the life of Celie as she touches many souls. It was produced and directed for the big screen by Steven Spielberg, and received 11 Academy Award nominations.

The movie starts in the Winter of 1909; Celie (Whoopi), at the introduction, is 14 and pregnant. In the first few scenes we find out that Celie gives birth to a daughter and has had a son previously. Both of which are taken from her. She also has a younger sister who she worries about. With the death of her mother, Celie wed to Mr. (Danny) in the place of her sister. This is where the real story begins...

Celie spends a good chunk of her life as the wife, slave, and maid of the Mr. and his children. Her sister eventually comes to live with her and teaches her to read, because then, when the time comes that they must be separated, her sister can write her. This is the basic plot, years of waiting for her sister to write and the search for her children.

There are many other characters that join Celie in her journey, but one of the most striking is Sofia (Oprah). Sofia is a Strong willed black woman at a time when women were to be seen and not heard. This brings her into conflict with others, many times.

I could tell you more, but then why rent the film? So even if you have passed this title up several times or never thought much of it, Give it a chance you may be pleasantly surprised... For it has a lot to offer including a wonderful bluesy soundtrack.