Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this adaptation of Alice Walker's powerful Pulitzer Prize-winning book deals with intense subject matter, including incest, sexual abuse, physical abuse, virulent racism and sexism. Celie is also separated from her sister and children. Teens who have experienced any abuse and more sensitive children may find the film too traumatic for viewing, but others will find the tail of moving from abuse to independence inspiring.
Families who watch this film may want to encourage family members to read The Color Purple and Walker's other novels, individually or as part of a family book club. What feelings did the abuse scenes bring up in you? How did Celie's relationship with Sophia help her survive? How can family members help one another survive and heal from traumatic experiences?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Randy White
This film is not for the weak of heart. It deals with real, traumatic issues, including child abuse, sexual abuse, racism and sexism. But for those teens who can weather the subject matter, the story of a woman's journey from abuse to independence is inspiring.
This adaptation of Alice Walker's award-winning novel was director Steven Spielberg's stab at a serious historical drama after the much lighter fare of the first two Indiana Jones movies. There is a great deal to admire in this sweeping epic, starting with the simple fact that complex African American characters like those presented here are rarely seen in American movies.
Whoopi Goldberg, nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, shines as the abused Celie, as does Danny Glover as her brutish husband. Oprah Winfrey made a memorable impression as the strong-willed Sofia even before she was a household name.
The movie brings out radically different responses in viewers. Those who like sentimental material tend to be extremely moved by the story. But other viewers find the movie overly grandiose, with scene after scene is designed to be gut wrenching.
Part of the problem lies in the transfer from the page to the screen. The filmmakers never quite solve the problem of adapting such dense literary material, moving from high point to high point in an attempt to cover the full sweep of the novel. Internal thoughts are delivered as stilted voice-overs, a poor device filmmakers resort when they see no other way to work a character's personal psychology into a movie.
In spite of its flaws, The Color Purple is both worthy and entertaining. Sounder tells another amazing story from the same time period, and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, adapted from the book by Maya Angelou, also focuses on an African American woman's discovery of self-worth and independence. Another fine film adaptation of a novel about African-American women's lives is Beloved.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA fair bit of sexual activity, much of it abusive. Shug helps Celie's discover her own sexuality and the friends kiss, but the scene is handled delicately. No nudity. |
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ViolenceCelie is physically abused by her husband, and suffers sexual abuse from her stepfather. Another character is convinced to beat his wife. Fisticuffs in a barroom brawl. Driven to despair, Celie holds a knife to her husband¹s throat. |
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LanguageMild, including "Jesus." |
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Social BehaviorCelie survives with the help of good friends and finds the tenacity to go on. She's a role model for people struggling through their own abusive situations. But the film also shows a great deal of racism and sexism that families may want to discuss. This film showcases the lives of African-Americans in a way that most American films do not. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoOne female character drinks excessively. |
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