Image from IMDB
I've wanted to watch this movie since I saw some clips of it during this year's Academy Awards, when Octavia Spencer took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She looked so dolled up and nice that night, in comparison to how fierce and plain she looked in the movie as an African-American maid and cook.
So what's this movie about? The poster looks quite cheerful - two young girls looking pretty in pink, and two maids seemingly indulging in idle gossip. But its actually about the very serious issue of racism.
Set in Mississippi during the 1960's, when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum, The Help follows the stories of several 'Negro' maids as they serve in the households of 'white folk'. Their bittersweet lives are painstakingly documented by Skeeter (Emma Stone), a young 'misfit' white girl mourning the loss of her own maid, Constantine, who has mysteriously disappeared.
As heavy as the plot sounds, its not a hard movie to see. There are some hilariously funny scenes that will make you wet your pants from laughing, and characters like Minnie (Octavia Spencer) and Aibileen who will keep you cheering for them. The movie also shows you both sides of the coin, and not just the ugliness of a few people's ignorant racial discriminations.
I found it a wonderfully entertaining movie. And I rarely every say this about a movie, but this is one that I'm sure I'll want to watch again. So go ahead, and get a look at The Help.
