Movies – The Help – 2011

Today Laura and I wandered out to an early afternoon movie and for a chance, we chose one intentionally. Also of note is that for the first time in a while the theatre wasn’t empty except for your faithful reviewer. By the time the movie had started the theatre was at least half full and it was interesting to note the difference that this made in the whole movie-going experience. Crowds are like sentient beings all on their own so in a way this crowd took on a life of its own and we all seemed to react together in the same way at the same time. It is part of the movie-going experience that one misses when at home or in an out-of-the-way location.

“The Help” is a merciless and poignant view of the life of black servant-class people in Jim Crow era Jackson, Mississippi. I am not a person generally prone to displays of great emotion but it was all the willpower I could muster at several points in the movie to not openly weep. It is a merciful circumstance that movie theatres are dark and private places. This movie moves in a way that very few ever have before and as I walked from the place I wanted sincerely to shake the hand of every person of black descent I met on the way out. The portrayal of the unjust and heartless treatment of southern servants of color during this era was just about all I could bear to watch.

Aside from the sheer emotions evoked, the movie also raised some interesting psychological questions. In these circumstances, white children of privilege were practically raised by black servants and came to view many of them as more parental than their own parents. Given this, how was it that they somehow managed to uphold the horrible injustice of the situation for so many generations? Similarly, it seems that on some level many of the characters were against the treatment received by blacks in the area yet they sat quietly and did nothing while secretly objecting. How can such implication by non-action by tolerated? Sadly this sort of thing is endemic in human history and this movie’s depiction of the circumstance should be applauded.

Overall, I feel confident in saying that this movie is among the best of the year. It’s heart-wrenching portrayals (though mixed with a bit of seemingly inappropriate comedic breaks) of life in the era were flowing and organic and natural and evoked real regret for their accuracy in the audience. As the credits rolled, the audience in the theatre I was in just sat stunned in contemplation of what they’d seen. This is truly a movie to be seen and shared and applauded. I can’t rank it highly enough.