The Help (2011)

On June 12, 1963, a day after President Kennedy on national television to address civil rights to demand an end to segregation and protection of voting rights, Medgar Evers civil rights activist, who had made campaign against segregation at the University of Mississippi, was murdered at his home in Jackson, Mississippi.

Help Notes seminal events, even if it is more concerned with racism and segregation at the national and parish. Kathryn Stockett based on the best-selling 2009 novel, Help a lot about the daily humiliations and injustices that black maids and nannies who work in the white houses have been and invisibility of these humiliations of white society - until this fictional narrative, their stories are finally told, first in secret and in public.

Among the daily humiliations, which looms larger stigma bathroom. Before your trip, Ole Miss, Evers organized a boycott target service stations that denied blacks use of their services. Apparently Policy bathroom was not everywhere at all seasons, we had the opportunity to move to the next station. If you are a lady, you can not just go to the house next door - especially if Holbrook rough with it.

The Help (2011)


"It's not hygienic," Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard), said matter-of-factly to his circle as Abileen (Viola Davis) is invisible. "They have different diseases than we do."

Mountainous spend much of this film an initiative to promote each White House are required to have separate bathrooms for help. In practice, the initiative often means rugged greater independence, without heat, without direct access from the house, which requires a good babysitter or to brave the elements every time you need to use the bathroom.

Mountainous also spend much of the movie trying to get a notice on its initiative in the bathroom Junior League newsletter, edited by Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone). Skeeter, a recent graduate of Ole Miss and aspiring writer, spent most of the film deliberately delaying the rugged reminders more then pointed surreptitiously working on own initiative.

Hired a local newspaper, a pinch-hit home advice column, Skeeter National Abileen audio experience becomes challenged. Skeeter's heart is the column, though - and soon realizes that Abileen, who is proud of himself is to collect a dozen white kids involved in cooking and cleaning, there is more to share with the world as the tips cleaning. And so can his friends, like the smart mouth Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer).

An insightful and complex film could be made of this material - a film that was praised by critics, and play a limited version for small audiences before disappearing quietly theaters. Contribute to a clearer, more pleasing to the Hollywood crowds approach. There are just hot heroines Winsome, a hissable villain, if multiple portions comeuppance is terribly unhealthy, ice, complete, and many people almost got the hook. In the process, except that some troubling questions asked.

A human face and character types of actions: aibil Davis. Davis is still a formidable presence in any film, even in small parts in support. Here, in a central role, not only does it make the film, she promises on her tired shoulders and infuses his scenes and his relationship with a bitter border aid is more bits of formulas.

Of all the characters in the film, just Aibilene feel completely in the world to live in a sustainable and tragic consequences. If Minny and Skeeter in each leg in a world, is in part due to their Aibilene connection. (For example, Aibilene experiences raising children come to a heartbreaking end of that resonates with the revelation about the family Skeeter event, adding emotional depth of the latter.)

Other performances, including Howard and Spencer are not bad - just on a par with the most successful film. Flowers as a chubby toddler aibil piously declare that "You are my real mother" or similar Skeeter anxious mother (Allison Janney) oh-so-benightedly fear that his career-minded girl non-marriage of mind may reflect " lust against nature, "and pondering" a root that heals. "

Racism and sexism (and unnatural desire on the exchange, homophobia), is rolled into a condescending / flattering portrait (condescending to them, flattering to us) and the white middle class culture of the South, even reckless, ignorant and ridiculous to be very hostile or very scary. I like the comment my friend Darrel Manson, Art and Faith. "If the Klan and others were concerned about saving a white Southern womanhood, there was really nothing to keep" Judging from this film, and nothing really to blame, or, if not accidental, as the hilly Bad Apple spoil a barrel.

Help scapegoats rough (and, off camera, another character Hillyesque) to pressure others to comply. Only those of an unusual nature, such as Skeeter - or no longer welcome, as Celia Foote (The Tree of Life Jessica Chastain), two of white trash and be ostracized for stealing another woman beautiful - dare cross social lines. All comparisons of mean girls that are more or less money.

A bit is the positive representation of the beautiful church and the faith of the black community. A cult scene in which a charismatic preacher joins the Exodus story to the challenges and responsibilities of his congregation was able to join the spiritual and practical action, and there are references to prayer, God and his enemies, even love sound. On the other hand, only black people allowed to have true spirituality. The only reference to religion remember a blank character is the affirmation of hills hypocritical that his refusal to lend money to her maid is something based on Christian principles. (At the same time, Roger Ebert noted that all the characters of white smoke and all the black characters do not.)

The clusters are surrounded by controversy and accusations book and movie. It was a real nanny called Ablene Cooper, who worked for his brother Stockett, the model Aibilene informal? Was suitable for Stockett, a white native of Jackson (who, like her heroine, Skeeter attended Ole Miss and Jackson left New York), the appropriate sounds and stories of black waiter?

These questions are irrelevant here, but here are two that are. First, the film does not portray black men unfairly in a negative light? Minoune husband is an abuser of intoxication, while Aibilene the absent parent, the child also seems to have been unnecessary. On the other hand, is not the preacher, seemingly honest, among others. However, it looks like a decent work deficit, support for black husbands and fathers.

Second is that of using the stories of oppression, which turns out to be really noble members of the oppressing class, such as Mississippi Burning? Not really. Skeeter is beautifully told, and it tells the story of girls' stories are possible, but ultimately, help is on the girls of courage as heroic Skeeter. The film is the great trumpet "Horrible Horrible" scene with Minnie is indelible Curse words on three hills, but the real turning point is a quiet time when Skeeter comes face to face with a room full of good - and that's their decision Skeeter is not what the scene is changing.