The Color Purple

Movie review by Randy White, Common Sense Media
The Color Purple Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Powerful tale of survival with wrenching scenes of abuse.

PG-13 1986 152 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Color Purple is an intense drama adapted from the novel by award-wining author Alice Walker. It deals with serious themes -- incest, marital abuse, overt racism and sexism -- that are not appropriate for young children. On the other hand, mature teenagers will benefit from seeing the movie, as it will open their eyes about the difficulties women -- especially black women -- experienced in the early 20th century. Many scenes include glimpses of violence and abuse, all against women, but here are also positive messages about the importance of women's relationships with other women, the power of the sisterly bond, and the human capacity to overcome oppression.

Community Reviews

Jefferson402
Jefferson402 Adult
June 18, 2021
age 17+
The movie portrays characters enduring traumatic experiences which are challenging and disturbing but which we can’t deny are still a reality in our society. Could spur meaningful discussion with teens and young adults.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much sex
Holly R.
Holly R. Adult
January 13, 2019
age 14+

Good for teens but not for anyone who isn't in highschool yet

It's a great movie for highschoolers but there's some very touchy subject matter that drives the plot and there's some very serious things that are explored in the movie from pedophilia, incest, selling children, abuse including sexual, verbal and physical abuses, and also some very mild LGBTQ stuff between Celia and Shug which may be a deal breaker for people who don't want their teenager to see to ladies kiss. Over all it's a wonderful if sad movie. And by wonderful I mean that it shows you can come from the most tragic of backgrounds and have the odds stacked against your favor and still manage to find peace at the end of all the heartache. It's beautifully sad.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this inspiring, wrenching drama based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel THE COLOR PURPLE, Whoopi Goldberg plays Celie, a Southern woman who has been abused all her life. Her current abuser is her husband, Mister (Danny Glover). Various women in her life slowly help Celie find strength in herself. Eventually, correspondence with her sister in Africa gives Celie the courage to stand up to Mister. This film marks director Steven Spielberg's stab at a serious historical drama after the much lighter fare of the first two Indiana Jones movies.

Is It Any Good?

This movie isn't for the weak of heart; it deals with real, traumatic issues, including child abuse, sexual abuse, racism, and sexism. But for teens who can weather the subject matter, the story of a woman's journey from abuse to independence is inspiring. There's 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. Goldberg, nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, shines as the abused Celie, as does Glover as her brutish husband. Oprah Winfrey made a memorable impression as the strong-willed Sofia even before she was a household name.

The Color Purple 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 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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the abuse scenes in The Color Purple. What feelings did they 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?

  • Talk about film adaptations of novels. What makes these kinds of adaptations successful? What are the pitfalls? Do you think this was a successful adapation?

  • How have times have changed for women -- especially black women -- since the era in which the story takes place? Has anything remained the same? Why are the challenges faced by women of color different than those faced by white women?

  • How do the characters in The Color Purple demonstrate perseverance and resilience? Why are these important character strengths?

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