“Did you ever dream of being anything else?”
The long anticipated film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel, The Help, finally hit the screen this week with Viola Davis delivering what just might be the best performance of the year. If it is true that everything is in the eyes, Aibileen (Davis) is carrying a mighty heavy load.
Set in 1960s Mississippi, The Help, explores the racial politics of the south through the eyes of Jackson’s black maids working in white homes and raising their employer’s children. When aspiring writer, Skeeter (Emma Stone), returns home from college to find that the maid (Cicely Tyson) who raised her is mysteriously no longer with her family, she not only questions what happened to her, but also grows increasingly aware of the how other black maids are treated. Armed with disgust and a pen, she sets out to tell the story of what life is really like for a black maid in their own words.
In spite of the great risk involved, Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny (Octavia Spencer) embark on a journey that will change all of their lives in ways they could’ve never imagined. Through the act of telling their stories, they not only empower themselves but those around them. Undoubtedly, the slate is still soiled but their act of courage serves as a small, first step towards something better in days to come.
Davis has expressed her initial reluctance to accept the role of Aibileen due to her uneasiness about playing a black maid in 2011. However, she later said once she read the story she recognized as a black actress it was one of the few times she’d been offered a role that had a true emotional journey and arch, in comparison to always having to play the facilitator. In this case, not only do I agree with her but cannot imagine any other actress bringing the level of integrity and gravitas that Davis infused in Aibileen. She should be well remembered this upcoming award season.
Spencer also shines as Aibileen’s feisty sidekick. While Davis is a model of stoic dignity, Spencer is there to tell you a few things without much thought about the consequences. Davis is all class and Octavia is all sass. However, behind the laughs lies an affecting emotional depth. It works.
Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, and Cicely Tyson round out the excellent and rare all-female ensemble.
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