The Help.
I have a confession and a disclaimer to make before my review of the movie “The Help”. My confession: I did not read the book, I did enjoy the movie. My disclaimer: I don’t hate white people, I just hate what they did and still do – especially to African-Americans.
In doing the research for this review, I found out that The Help’s storyline of a young southern white woman writing about the lives of black domestic workers is partly autobiographical.
The author, Kathryn Stockett was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1969. Her well-to-do family had a black maid, Demetrie McLorn. The beloved maid died when Stockett was 16 in 1985. Mclorn had worked for the family for 35 years. Stockett was one of five children, she described her mother as being a very busy mom. Stockett admitted crying in McLorn’s arms when her mother went away on trips. In an interview for the Daily Mail, Stockett was quoted as saying that, “Demetrie stood me at the wardrobe mirror and told me over and over, ‘You are beautiful. You are smart. You are important.’ It was an incredible gift to give a child who thinks nothing of herself.”
Mississippians must love their black domestic workers, because Stockett’s brother, Robert, supported his black housekeeper, Abilene Cooper in a lawsuit against his sister. Mrs. Cooper claimed that Kathryn Stockett stole the story of her life as a domestic servant. The main black character is a domestic worker named Aibileen. The case was thrown out became the statute of limitations had ran out on her claim. (Just so you know, the judge was a black female, not that that fact is relevant.)
The director of the film, Tate Taylor is a Hollywood actor and director who has finally hit the big time. He is also Stockett’s childhood friend. He also had a black maid when he was a child, Ms. Carol Lee.
I am starting to see a pattern here. Is this modern day southern patricians cashing in on the lives of their servants? Is Stockett’s book and Taylor’s movie the exploitation of poor black women by an elitist, gentrified, privileged class? Do these people represent the New South? Has the Civil Rights Era become a vehicle to make money for some, while ignoring the continuing wealth disparity between “the help” and those being served?
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone has embraced the film with open arms. There were some disgruntled voices in the black community. The main complaint is that story does not even scratch the surface of the dangers of speaking out in the 1960’s south. Participation of black maids in an exposé about white families would have been suicidal! The movie (and the book), they say, does not truly convey the tension and stress that blacks had to endure every minute of everyday. The critics say that the film glosses over the exploits of the true heroes of the Civil Rights movement. Black men are not represented in any meaningful way.
There a couple of things I liked about the movie. First, the ensemble cast was mostly women. Men had minor roles, this good because women need more roles for them to play. Second, the acting was superb. (I am a fan of Jessica Chastain. She played the ditsy blonde Celia. She has an incredible range of acting skills. If you don’t believe me, check her out in the movie, The Debt, as the young Rachel.) Viola Ward is one of my favorites. She always delivers a solid performance. (I hope she wins her Oscar for her work in this movie.)
The movie has made a lot of money. Reportedly produced for only $25 million, it has grossed over $203 million! It dropped a whopping 19 million on the region surrounding Jackson Mississippi where the story is based (and is Stockett’s and Taylor’s hometown). Who can argue with prosperity? So what, if the story dredges up a shameful and painful past? Don’t worry white people got a handle on it. It won’t be too bad.
As an African-American man, the film was painful to watch. I lived during those times depicted in the film. I was an impressionable teenager when images of white cops beating blacks filled the TV screen on the evening news. While the film nods respectfully to assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers and his wife Myrlie, it is all too brief.
The South has discovered gold in its past. The new generation of well-to-do story tellers will tell more yarns about America’s racial problems. I encourage them to be truthful and not to sweep the ugly under the rug. We need to honor those that fought for freedom.
I hope that Ms. Stockett’s next work will explore the relationships between blacks and whites in greater depth. The Help was a good first effort, but clearly there is a lot more to be said about race and class in this country.
– Richard James
For more info:
http://www.wapt.com/atthemovies/29934219/detail.html
http://acriticalreviewofthehelp.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/blonde-ambition/
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150258432399506
