What a beautiful and poignant film that takes us on the journey of civil rights, friendship and determination in the United States in the late 1960s (during the great Civil rights campaign led by Martin Luther King). The Help takes place in Mississippi, the Deep South of US and follows the story of wannabe journalist Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan played by Emma Stone. Skeeter who wants more than marriage and babies sees the the opportunity to tell the world a story that has never been told before, the story from the eyes of the African -American house maids and their struggles of working for the white upper class family.
The Help is a feel good movie, one that makes you leave the cinema grinning ear to ear with the need to punch the sky cheering that our heroes got redemption and the ice queen villian was put her in place. The acting was outstanding with one of my favourite actresses Emma Stone playing the lead role (but what was with that crazy curly hair?) and a shout out has to be given to the cute little three year olds (Emma and Eleanor Henry) who both played the part of Mae Mobley Leefolt the daughter of Mrs Elizabeth Leefolt. Mae Mobley is cared for and looked after by one of the main maids and heroines of the movie Aibileen. Known mostly as Aibileen’s “Baby Girl” Emma and Eleanor’s gorgeous performance will make you laugh ridicoulsly out loud and at times her sadness will just break your heart.
The costumes and set design were beautiful and I loved the touches of humour that was sprinkled into the movie which were finely placed as not to detract from the main message of racism and social injustice.
The plot however did sometimes feel a bit random and loose ends are left untied for example Skeeter’s connection to her social circle of friends. Skeeter is portrayed as being really close to Hilly and Elizabeth but we don’t see why and how, It’s obvious she doesn’t fit in with them at all(did she ever fit in with them or was it her time away that changed her?). And what was with the boyfriend? His role in the film made no sense at all.
While I’d like to say that The Help was a story of empowerment it kinda felt more like a story about how the white lady and a little help from God saved a black community from the racist southern countryside. The storyline is a bit idealistic, but it’s a Hollywood movie after all and one cannot expect too much depth. Overall, The Help is a well meaning story the captures a time of turbelence in America’s history
8/10
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