I have to say that once I actually saw the film I realized that it had so much more to it than just who gets it sit on whose "royal throne."
The book and the movie are fairly alike, (a story about maids and their mistresses in Jackson, MS during the 1960's), so I shall review both at once.
The book was written by Kathryn Stockett, a woman born and raised in Jackson, during the 60's. She lived a life similar to the white heroine in the novel, Miss Skeeter and knew many woman similar to the African-American heroines, Aibileen and Minny. She wanted to tell a story that would show the good and the bad of living in such a racially unforgiving time, and I believe she succeeded. The Help tells the story of these three women, in first person narrative. Though the book is well over 400 pages long, the story-telling style of the book makes you only want more, like a child feels when they are being told a bedtime story.
The film, which is of the same name, stars: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Bryce Dallas Howard. It was a brilliant adaptation of the novel, capturing it's heart with grace and beauty.
I think this movie will always have a very close place to my heart because it was the inspiration for me to become a full-time nanny. The way Aibileen cared for her charges and the way she was able to be there for them when no one else was, sold me on the idea of caring for children.
The book and the movie are the same in that they are about what it means to be a person, and the importance of treating others the same as yourself. Whether you are black, white, rich or poor, young or old... The women in this story learn to love and except each other even in the face of great adversity.
