Alice Walker's book "The Color Purple," written in 1982, has been turned into different forms of entertainment in the past, like Steven Spielberg's movie and the Broadway musical from 2005. Blitz Bazawule's latest film brings together the strengths of these various forms, creating a unique blend that combines the powerful stories with musical performances.
Starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Danielle Brooks, the musical "The Color Purple" tells the story of Celie, portrayed in her youth by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and in adulthood by Fantasia Barrino. The story begins with young Celie and her sister Nettie, portrayed by Halle Bailey, enjoying their time on the shoreline, sharing secrets and singing. However, their joy is confined to their private moments because their home is dominated by their abusive father. Celie, facing a second pregnancy with her father's child, endures the heartbreak of him selling her babies. She later becomes a victim of his cruelty once again when he forces her into marriage with Mister (Colman Domingo), an older abusive man who beats, rapes, and treats her horribly.
Mister ensures that the sisters lose contact, leaving Celie without a sister, family, or children. Alone, she struggles through the isolating decades to come. Her husband, cruelly abusive, is in love with another woman, Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson), a "loose woman" blues singer who made it big in Memphis. The only sources of comfort for Celie is hope that her sister and children are alive somewhere and the support of Shug and Sofia (Danielle Brooks), Mister's strong-willed daughter-in-law who finds herself in prison after punching a white man.
The performances in "The Color Purple" were outstanding, specifically by Taraji P. Henson and Colman Domingo. Both actors brought their characters to life, capturing the essence of the emotions on the big screen. Taraji P. Henson's vocal performance was particularly impressive, showcasing her range not only as an actress but also as a performer and entertainer. Colman Domingo's portrayal of Mister and his gut-wrenching behavior in the film also stood out. The movie depicted the lives of African Americans after the Emancipation Proclamation.
One notable scene in the film is when Shug Avery expresses to Celie that Mister's treatment and behavior are reminiscent of a slave master. She reassures Celie that slavery is long over. This message is interesting, especially in today's time. While we often focus on racial disparities and the mistreatment of Black people by white men in America, it's crucial to address the horrors of misogyny, in which Black men have played a significant role for centuries. Black women suffer not only from racism but equally so from the misogyny ingrained in our culture. It's essential that we strive correct both forms of injustice.
The film portrays the generational trauma possibly coming from the violence of slavery in our country. Mister is extremely abusive to his wife, both physically and mentally. He encourages his son Harpo to do the same to his wife, perpetuating the harmful notion that it's acceptable to mistreat and beat women. Celie's father and many other Black men in the film showcase terrible behavior, illustrating the various ways Black women have been mistreated and disrespected by those who should love them the most: Black men.
The movie also highlights the limited opportunities Black women had during those times to take control of their lives. Women who dared to make their own decisions were often labeled as "loose" or "fast," despite witnessing multiple instances of men robbing the innocence from Black girls in the film.
Overall, the movie was good, and I really enjoyed the songs. However, I wouldn't anticipate an Academy Award nomination for Fantasia Barrino. In my opinion, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Halle Bailey, and Danielle Brooks would be my front runners for any nominations from "The Color Purple".
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