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Year of release: 2011
Director: Tate Taylor
Writers: Tate Taylor (screenplay), Kathryn Stockett (novel)
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, etc.

For more information on “The Help”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
In spite of the fact that it is a drama on serious topics, it’s hard not to label “The Help” a chick flick. It is about Civil Rights era housewives in Jackson, Mississippi, and their maids of color – the women who raised their children and did their housework, with little to show for. The masculine presence in this story is scarce and, despite making a few points, it is not essentially relevant. Apart from that, it is a touching movie, with great acting, showing the unjust lives of black women in those times. The (often ignorant and insensitive) lady of the house (Bryce Dallas Howard does a great job portraying a completely despicable one) had a full life at the expense of the bitter sacrifices her help needed to make to be able to serve long hours, doing all the actual work around the house, and getting no respect for it. Prejudices and stereotypes, a past that’s not very far away from our time… It’s hard to believe that people could/can behave like that… Hard to believe, yet real.

Highlights:
It’s a good movie with good acting performances rewarded with nominations and awards.

Downside:
On a scale from 1 to 5 in which 1 means “not a chick flick” and 5 is “100% chick-o flick-o”, “The Help” is at 4.

Would I see it again? – Yes, someday

My Rating (1 to 10): 9

Recommended: Yes 🙂

Suggestion:
Remember: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important” 🙂